Thursday, May 15, 2008

Why These Shoes?

Linda and Donna wrote to me with the following question:

Why would you use the symbol of high-heeled shoes to raise the awareness of sexual assault? To see the words high-heeled shoes and sexual assault in the same context is to say they have something in common. How can you raise awareness by creating a connection that should not be made in the first place? This symbolism implies that there is a connection between to two.

Please enlighten us.

From someone who wears high heeled shoes and someone who does not.

I wrote the following response. What do you think?

Hi Linda & Donna,

Thank you for your email and an opportunity to consider your questions and describe a bit about our relationship to these cultural artifacts and metaphors.

We took up the metaphor, "You can't understand another person's experiences until you've walked a mile in their shoes." We wanted an opportunity for men to better understand that some of women's experiences are significantly different than mens. Too often these differences are glossed over by ideas like, "We're all human, after all." Gender training and day to day living can obfuscate differences. High heeled shoes represented an opportunity for men to step into shoes that carry the cultural symbolism of "woman" in "femininity." The physical experience of walking in shoes that can be painful and require "training" to master provided an opportunity for men to better understand how something so taken for granted as the shoes a person walks in can make for very different experiences in day to day living. We hoped that awakening to this one taken for granted notion would make way for more awakenings. The more awake we are culturally, the more freedom we have to negotiate the meaning of symbols given to us (or sold to us) and the idiosyncratic meaning we make of these symbols.

For us, the connection with "sexual assault" is already embedded in "high heeled shoes" because they are culturally marked as "feminine." "Feminine" is too often marked by patriarchy as "less than" and subject to "objectification." There are slang names for high heels that clearly expose this danger and manufacturers and retailers market these shoes more "benignly" as "sexy."  

We want to call into question the cultural assumptions and practices that allow these markings to go unexamined and operating with impunity. Complicating these markings in a surprising and interesting context can make way for remodeling the markings and helping individuals have more say in their own relations to these representations.

Our interest is not in requiring women to change their relationship with these symbols, but to invite men to be more aware of the multiple layers of meaning embedded. We want men to consider the relationship they prefer to take to these symbols rather than the relationship they have been given or sold. We want men to consider engaging in conversation with a given woman her relationship to these symbols and negotiate how this relationship may influence or be part of the relationship between that man and that woman.

We believe these considerations, examinings and potential awakenings can help men be more articulate about their interests and intentions, more successful in having the effects of their interests and intentions match up and make for more successful and satisfying relationships between women and men.

Then, if one person wants to take on "sexy" as a descriptor of their fashion or even their person, they can do so with more freedom and less constraint from cultural or patriarchal dictates.

If another person wants to take on high heels as, say, "cool shoes" without other cultural signifiers, they can do so with more freedom to co-create with the cultural symbols and markings their unique relationship.

Our hope is that in a given instance, a man and a woman can negotiate the meaning and relationships to cultural artifacts and signifiers in ways that privilege their specific interests and intentions rather than being constrained by the obligations of dominant (and dominating) meanings.

What effects do these thoughts have on your thinking? I am very interested in your questions and thoughts.


News - May 15, 2008

Here's a link to a great video of this year's Logan, UT Walk. This video has shown on MTVU several times. Way to get the word out! 

http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A08A00170098F153/




Monday, May 12, 2008

News - May 12, 2008

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Indianapolis Star - United States
Hendricks County Sheriff's Department court Deputy Dane Morgan, slips on a pair of high heel women's shoes for the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event to ...
See all stories on this topic

Men wear heels to raise money for shelter
Chicago Tribune - United States
Mary Williams, who handles marketing and business development for Sheltering Wings, says the Walk a Mile in Her Shoesevent Saturday raised nearly $7000 for ...
See all stories on this topic


Thursday, May 1, 2008

Walk Story - 2008 Plymouth, NH - Denise

Here is a Walk Story from Denise who participated in the Plymouth, NH
Walk:

What a great concept... Thank You ...

My daughter helped to organize the students on her campus this past month. It
was such wonderful therapy for her. She was raped September of '06. The students, fraternities and friends that came on her behalf was endearing to me, and empowering to her...especially when the sporting team of the "creep" were among the groups walking for her. (Thank God he had left the school in '06)

Men supporting women - MEN saying no - I love it! It is lovely to know good does still exist in the world. Its been such a scary place lately. The boys there today, not too many with heels - perhaps daunted by the snow and ice - still looked cute with their ribbons. It made me cry.

On my daughter's behalf - Thank you and your organization.

Denise

News - May 1, 2008

Event raises awareness of sexual violence
Morris Daily Herald - Morris,IL,USA
The main goal of the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes organization, according to its literature and Web site, is to help people realize sexualized violence does not ...
See all stories on this topic

Men pumped up to fight assault
UM Maneater - Columbia,MO,USA
By Gwen Daniels Sophomores Jordan Sexton and Scott Rowland run in heels Sunday as part of the 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' event at Stankowski Field. ...
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Men don women's shoes for a good cause
Tacoma Weekly - Tacoma,WA,USA
The event was the third annual "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" fundraiser for the Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County, an event geared to raise awareness and ...
See all stories on this topic



Monday, April 28, 2008

News - April 28, 2008

"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" raises men's awareness about sexual ...

Columbia Missourian - Columbia,MO,USA
By JAMIE KANKI Throughout the year as part of "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" groups of men wear high heels and take a walk to raise awareness about sexual ...
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Milford stroll in high heels raises awareness
Connecticut Post - Bridgeport,CT,USA
... but the big toes that made Ron Santo of Milford lag behind some 250 other participants in the second annual "Walk A Mile in Her Shoes" march. ...
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Life after rape: Women share stories to help others navigate recovery
San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA
She joined a survivors' panel and made a speech at a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser in San Jose earlier this month. During the time she was preparing ...
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Guys in high heels raise awareness for sexual assault and child abuse
The News-Review - Roseburg,OR,USA
Friday marked the first local "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event, something organizers plan to continue. "Anything I can do to get people thinking about child ...
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PIERCE COUNTY: Dozens to 'walk a mile in her shoes' for Sexual ...
TheNewsTribune.com - Tacoma,WA,USA
Participants will "walk a mile in her shoes" for the fundraiser. "I ended up with pink flats," Master Builders Association of Pierce County President Duke ...
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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Walk Story - 2008 Troy, NY - Jonathan Jones

Here is a Walk Story from Jonathan Jones who participated in the 2008 Troy, NY Walk:

Dear Frank,
 
  First I like to congratulate you on the success of your initiative.  I participated in the 'Walk a mile in her shoes' event this year in Troy, NY and was amazed not only by the excitement during the walk, but the outpouring of supporting before we launched.  My team "Lovely Latin Guys" won the trophy for most money raised with $919.  I decided to walk this year because I made a pact with myself that this year in my life I would do things that put causes' in front of my ego.  What better event to start with! I was able to raise $239 in one week and this really motivated my participation as the event drew closer.
 
 Once I arrived at the registration table and got my shoes, I realized that I would be walking for more than I'd expected.  My group consisted of 3 Latino men all over the age of 40.  I am a 24 year old Black male and was the only Black person to participate at the event (from the people I saw at the starting line) .  As I walked I carried those stories of Black and Latino women and men with me.  In addition, I walked the first .5 and jogged .5 of a mile through the finish line. After crossing, I was proud not only that I completed the entire walk but that my girlfriend who walked alongside me was also proud.  This event brought out a side of myself that I never would have thought existed.  More importantly and without knowing, I became a representative for a cohort of people who are equally impacted by sexualized violence.
 
Most of my friends and family were very supportive, but of course some don't understand why I would want to do something that totally conflicts my character.  But for me, it is that exact reason.  No one that knows me would expect me to do such an event, but after doing it and realizing the impact and purpose attached to it, I am glad to have been chosen.  The amazing fact that every 90 seconds there is another victim is a testament to how important it is that we become more aware and pro-active to the ills in our society.  It is my hope that next year I can provide some awareness to my community and increase participation.  Props to you for your vision and the walk.