This statement ignited a movement aimed at eliminating both victim-blaming in sexual assault cases and the rape culture in which we live. This statement ignited "SlutWalk."
Heather Jarvis (pictured above) is a feminist activist. With her experience in gender studies, social work, and community activism, she has spent several years supporting/initiating projects centered on sexuality, gender, education and health, anti-violence efforts, and creating safer spaces for support.
As a survivor of sexual assaults, this past year Heather was infuriated upon hearing the previously mentioned slut-shaming and victim-blaming comment made by a representative of the Toronto Police force.Having had enough, she co-founded SlutWalk in early 2011 – a small idea that began in Toronto to fight sexual violence and has since spread across the world.
Identifying with sex- and body-positive politics, Heather Jarvis constantly aims to shed shame around sex and sexuality. She has a fascination with language and identities, striving to utilize language to interrogate ideas and blend important conversations across oppression, desire and expression.
Described as an eternal optimist by some who know her, Heather refuses to believe things cannot change. She is determined to continuously work on improving this world through increased respect, consent, understanding and acceptance. Through her politics and her work she has become a speaker, advocate and educator.
Works Cited
Kenda O'Neal
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ReplyDeleteYayay.
ReplyDeleteMolly
I'm happy women like her exist. I hope her optimism never fades and she continues her work as an advocate for women's rights.
ReplyDeleteI first heard about SlutWalk less that a month ago on a feminist blog. Now hearing the story of the young woman that started it is really inspiring. She fights shame with pride and I'm surprised it hasn't won more attention. It may appear to some that she is being rebellious and sarcastic, but she is addressing a very real issue in a culture that glorifies purity and exercises abuse. It's good for women to hear something other than this contradiction from mass media and society (one says be sexy! and the other says be pure!) It's good for them to hear that their bodies and their sexuality are not a thing to be ashamed of, and that when it comes to violence against women the only one's responsible are the perpetrators.
ReplyDelete-Natasha Alterici