Another View On Slutwalks By Mehreen Kasana
“As a Muslim feminist woman of color, I cannot relate to Slutwalks as it caters mostly to the definition of emancipation set by white women. Slutwalks deviate in terms of delivering the message against sexual assault. It turns a blind eye to women of cultures where flimsy clothes don’t necessarily lead to rapes. Muslim women get raped too. Nassim Elbardouh is right. “Do Not Rape” Walk sounds better. This isn’t to say that I don’t support Slutwalks. I simply can’t relate to a liberating movement that does not liberate nor acknowledge me. Western feminism, despite its undeniable achievements, still perpetuates the image of a white woman as the liberated one. If these feminists do claim to represent all women, they need to understand the dynamics of the cultures other women hail from. Don’t care if you’re wearing a thong or burka, no one has the right to rape you. Burka clad brown Muslim women get raped too. Represent us. I want a movement that represents me regardless of my color and creed. End victim blaming and rape culture by representing everyone.”—
From The Angry Black Tumblr | Comment below or Reblog @ Tumblr
Liking this very much.
Intellectually I identify with white women’s version of feminism which doesn’t translate properly in mixed society whenever it comes to me.
Spiritually and culturally it doesn’t translate comfortably.
Problem is, when asked to consider other groups that fit under the feminist umbrella, it seems like we end up being met with “Later, let’s do this first then maybe…”
i understand how WOC would not identify with the slutwalk movement, especially if they interpret it to mostly be about wearing “flimsy” clothes. however, i would like to point out that part of the slutwalk is also about the term slut in general. Admittedly i don’t know if women who wear burkas get called slut very often, but many women, regardless of how much skin they have covered, are called slut.
part of it is also pointing out that there is no correlation between what women wear and rape in this culture or others. when the cop said women could avoid rape by not dressing like sluts, he was the one implying that women in burkas don’t get raped. the slutwalk is partially about discrediting that myth. after reading this post, i realize that message needs to be made more clear.
No no no no no. The whole point of Slutwalk is that women in burkas *do* get raped. It’s about pointing out that flimsy clothes *don’t* lead to rape, in any culture. Rapists lead to rape. It’s about saying that whatever you are wearing, be it burka or bikini, rape is not the fault of the victim. It’s about women being able to wear whatever they choose to wear, without being told that they will get raped and it will be their fault. Slutwalk came about as a response to some douchebag cop in Canada saying that not ‘dressing like a slut’ will help to protect you from rape. This is rubbish. That is what Slutwalk is trying to say. I understand that ‘western’ feminism can seem patronising and non-inclusive but I would like to think that if you showed up to Slutwalk in a burka you would be welcomed and commended for exercising your free choice to wear whatever you like, whilst showing that solidarity among women in the face of victim blaming and the rape culture can transcend ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries. That’s what I hope, but then, I *am* a bleeding-heart liberal so…
Flimsy clothes don’t lead to rape in any culture – rapists lead to rape. When women wearing burkas are raped by rapists, I bet they are called sluts then too.