Men Don Women's Shoes to Gain Perspective on Women's Experience

For 13 years, men in the Utah State University community have stepped into women’s shoes, literally, to raise awareness about the causes and impacts of sexual violence against women. Wednesday, April 12, the USU Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office (SAAVI) will host Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence.

“Walking a mile in high-heeled shoes is uncomfortable, but so is the experience of facing the causes and effects of sexual violence,” said Jenny Erazo, director of SAAVI. “But this event is also a light-hearted way to get people talking about it.”

Nationally, sexual assault affects as many as 20-25 percent of women and 3-6 percent of men each year. Walk a Mile organizer and SAAVI intern Felicia Gallegos says SAAVI hopes to raise awareness of the severity of sexual violence on the people who experience it.

“Whether we know it or not, we all know at least one person who has been sexually assaulted,” Gallegos said. “Through Walk a Mile, we want to bring this message to our campus so we can all begin to examine how our own attitudes about sexual violence and biases against victims perpetuate the problem.”

For example, Gallegos points to how the act of believing a person who discloses a sexual assault can change the long-term outcomes for that person and prevent other incidents of sexual violence.  

“After a sexual assault, victims will often turn to someone they trust,” Gallegos said. “When victims are met with belief and support, they are more likely to seek out counseling and advocacy services, as well as report to the police.”

Reporting to police is essential in preventing future sexual assaults.

The Walk a Mile event is not just for men. SAAVI encourages women and families to join the march and support the men who are participating. The Cache Valley community is also invited.

SAAVI will host walks at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to accommodate student schedules. Both walks will begin at the west entrance of the Taggart Student Center, and those interested can register in the TSC the morning of the event or ahead of time by emailing saaviinfo@aggiemail.usu.edu. Find more information about SAAVI at usu.edu/saavi.

About Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®

Frank Baird proposed the first Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® event in California in 2001 as a way to get men involved in efforts against sexual violence. Since then, an ever-increasing number of people have joined the march worldwide.

“Violence against women does not just affect women,” Baird said. “Men are hurt and angered when women they care about are raped. Men are hurt and angered when they try to develop relationships with women in an atmosphere of fear and mistrust and blame. And the same violence that targets women also targets men because rape isn't about sex, it’s about power, control and violence.”

Contact: Felicia Gallegos, SAAVI, felicia.gallegos@usu.edu | 435-797-1510