Reversing Roles: Walk a Mile in her Shoes event raises community awareness
Lisa Huynh | Managing Editor
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Lifestyles
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The message behind this spectacle was meant as an act of protest against rape, sexual assault and gender violence by encouraging men to literally "walk a mile in someone else's shoes," as the old saying goes. Hosted by Coastal Horizons in Wilmington, the Walk a Mile in her Shoes fundraiser raised money towards the Rape Crisis Center, which provides 24-hour emergency response, counseling, information and referrals, court advocacy and accompaniment, and support groups for victims of sexual assault-men and women alike.
This year, Walk a Mile in her Shoes brought together men and women of all different ages. UNCW volunteers worked alongside committee members with the event, law enforcement officers joined in on the parade, fathers marched with strollers, and UNCW fraternity members of Alpha Tau Omega and Tau Kappa Epsilon carried anti-rape posters while walking down Ann Street. One participant, Robert Barber of the Marine Corps, drove 45 minutes from his station with three other Marines to make it to the event.
"The fact that one in six women are victims of sexual assault is a fact that pops up in my mind; there are six girls in my family, you know? It is really eye-opening," Barber said.
The variety in community involvement does not stop there. All registered participants of the march paid a $25 fee for the cause, in addition to voluntary donations, which gave donators an opportunity to win prizes through raffle drawings. TKE of UNCW received a 3rd place trophy, with Laney High School's psychology class in 2nd place, and Lighthouse Films Company winning 1st place as the groups who donated the most. Prizes were also given to individual donations, as well. Altogether, the Rape Crisis Center raised a total of $3,437.
1st place winner of individual donation and the MC of the WAM, Shawn Arledge, stated during his speech, "When you actually talk about these statistics to people, you never hear anyone say, 'I don't care about that.' People just don't know."
The main focus that WAM is trying to send out to the community is that sexual violence does not just affect women; rather, it also affects the men who care about them, their families, friends, co-workers and their communities.
"It [WAM] raises awareness that sexual violence is not just a woman's issue, but a community issue. It also gives awareness about where to get help if needed," said Rachel Smith, a senior at UNCW and volunteer at the event.
The Rape Crisis Center will next be holding the Rock against Rape benefit in April. Volunteers and supporters are highly encouraged to help in the movement against sexual violence.
"[WAM] raises awareness about sexual violence in the community, especially for men. Until we get men focused on taking a stand, it is hard to make an impact," said Kim Gobble, media coordinator of Walk a Mile in her Shoes. To learn more about the Rape Crisis Center, visit www.coastalhorizons.org.
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