People of all orientations, gender identities, races, ages, abilities, walks of life, and levels of sluttiness (or lack thereof) are invited to join us -- SlutWalk is not specific to a certain group. All we ask is that you stand with us for what is right. We’re sick of being shamed for our sex choices and being told that survivors of sexual assault brought it on themselves. If you’re sick of it too, come gather with us!" - SlutWalk SG Facebook page.
With this in mind I, as a man who is both appalled by the lack of progressive thinking within our society and the overall callous attitudes of the trolls against this movement, went to see for myself on Sunday what the Slut Walk movement was all about. I wanted to lend my support for what I saw as a continuation of the old civil rights movement, a call or a gentle reminder if you will, for the renewal of tolerance and acceptance within our society - something I think many of us have forgotten about in these modern times.
I decided to do this by putting a human face to Slut Walk. This 2-part series, Faces of Slut Walk, is my way of showing you, the reader, that these are real people who stand for something good, not the misogynistic, loose morals suggestion that the haters and a certain local newspaper would have you believe.
This portrait series is about empowerment and understanding - that people should not be afraid to be themselves and understand that rape is an act of personal violation that some use as a tool to show power and dominance over another person. It is a horrible act that happens not because someone asks for it or deserves it as the shamers would want you to believe. Rape happens as a product of man's cruelty to man. It is a weapon, one that should be reviled and rightfully outlawed.
These portraits are of real people, real faces, with real hopes and dreams, who want to break the cycle of violence and hatred that pervades our societal fabric, and their presence at this event sends that message. I hope you, the reader, can look at these portraits with no prejudgment and learn from the photos what Slut Walk really is about. And what these people are really standing for.
View Part 2 of Faces of SlutWalk here on freshgrads.sg.
View Part 2 of Faces of SlutWalk at freshgrads.sg.
Read also: "SlutWalk Singapore 2011 - what it was and was not" by Talya Stone.
