Walk a Mile in Her Shoes (Fundraiser event)
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Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a fundraising program that helps raise awareness on domestic violence, gender-based and sexual violence.[1] The fundraising program created a one-mile walking event to promote the awareness that the program discusses and has, since its creation, occurred across North America. The main aspect of the event is that men are asked to walk the mile in red stilettos to advocate for women and other survivors of domestic violence. It has become a global event in which cities, colleges, and universities participate. The participants are asked to wear red high-heels to display their support for the victims of domestic violence, as well as simply being advocates for the violence that women receive.
History
[edit]The fundraising program was created in 2001.[1] The program created a walking event to raise awareness and that has since expanded to become a globally renowned march. The idea was created by Frank Baird, a licensed Family Therapist in California,[2] in collaboration with a rape crisis centre, but has since grown to become an event that can be organized by anyone who wants to help raise awareness and start a discussion on sexual assault and gender-based violence.[3]
Event
[edit]The event consists of a march where men are typically asked to walk a mile in red high heels. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness of rape, sexual assault and gender-based violence while also starting a discussion on gender stereotypes and expectations, as explained on the Walk a Mile in Her Shoe's website.[1] The walk has since grown to accept anyone willing to walk in support of the cause.
The event's website helps organizers plan out their events, as well as what should be included if there should be speakers, routes that the walkers should take, how to get access to the shoes for the participants and more.
The recurring aspects of the event helps shed light on the continued problems of femicide in North America and across the world.[4]
Locations of event
[edit]| Location | Fund Raising | |
|---|---|---|
| Cities | Barrie, Ontario[5][6] | |
| Cambridge, Ontario[7] | ||
| Edmonton, Alberta[8] | ||
| Hamilton, Ontario[9] | ||
| Hilo, Hawaii island[10] | ||
| Peterborough, Ontario[11] | more than 20,000$[11] | |
| Red Deer, Alberta[12] | ||
| Regina, Saskatchewan[13] | ||
| Toronto, Ontario[14] | ||
| Union County, Ohio[15][16] | ||
| Universities | Central Arkansas University[17] | |
| Millersville University[19] | ||
| College | College of Coastal Georgia[20] |
Controversy and debates
[edit]While the event has gained popularity through the years and is known as a program that is meant to help educate and spread awareness on the topic of domestic and gender-based violence, some participants have raised questions about the efficiency of the event.[21] In a thesis written on the issue, questions pertaining to the effectiveness of the awareness on college campuses are indeed useful to the cause and further help the students get educated on the matter or if the event has simply become a "playful" act.[21] The paper raises the issue of enclosing discussions of sexual violence as one that is related strictly to feminism, instead of a discussion of its own.[21]
The ambivalence between the event's method of raising awareness, especially regarding the high heels, and the lack of discussion regarding gender norms is another issue that is brought up regarding the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.[22] The thesis in which this concern is brought up explores how discussions on "trans-misogyny" and gender aren't being addressed during these events as well as the consequences linked to those conversations not happening.[22] The article touches on the cisgender aspect of the event and how the main "participant" is meant to be a cis-gendered man, which restricts several groups of people from participating in support of the event.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®". Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Inspirational Interviews–Frank Baird of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, Part One – The Pixel Project". www.thepixelproject.net. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Berry, Taylor (2023-10-19). "Hundreds Of Men Denounce Domestic Violence At The Annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes March". MadameNoire. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
- ^ Staff, Welland News. "Walk A Mile In HER Shoes returning October 19th". COUNTRY 89. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
- ^ "'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' hits its stride in September". BarrieToday.com. 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes to end violence against women". Barrie. 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes | YWCA Cambridge". Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Edmonton men Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and raise more than $192K - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca". 630CHED. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Hamilton YWCA's 'Walk A Mile In Their Shoes' fundraiser on target for $150K goal - Hamilton | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – YWCA of Hawaii Island". Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ a b "Peterborough YWCA's Walk A Mile In Their Shoes fundraiser returns after 4-year hiatus - Peterborough | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Walk a Mile in HER Shoes returns to Red Deer's downtown". Red Deer Advocate. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "YWCA Regina Walk A Mile In Their Shoes". YWCA Regina. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "In pictures: Men walk a mile in her shoes to raise violence awareness". The Globe and Mail. 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Union County, Ohio - Union County Walk-A-Mile In Her Shoes". Union County Ohio Official Website. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' encourages gender relations, sexual violence awareness | Heidelberg University". www.heidelberg.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes". uca.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Walk a Mile: IU East". Indiana University East. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Kacskos, Janet (2016-10-31). "Think You Can Walk A Mile In Her Shoes?". Millersville News. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Fasig, Michelle (2023-09-25). "Walk A Mile In Her Shoes 2023: Step Up to End Domestic Violence". Safe Harbor. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ a b c Kamis, Kristina (2016). Powerful or Playful?: An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Events (Thesis). Kent State University.
- ^ a b c Nicolazzo, Z (2015-11-09). ""I'm Man Enough; Are You?": The Queer (Im)possibilities of Walk A Mile In Her Shoes". Journal of Critical Scholarship on Higher Education and Student Affairs. 2 (1). ISSN 2377-1305.