Gloria Steinem, Feminism, and Nationwide 'Slut Walks'

Last night HBO aired a documentary called "Gloria: In Her Own Words", a one-hour summary of feminist/activist/writer Gloria Steinem's groundbreaking work that began in the 1970s. Directed by Peter Kunhardt, the film is a great combination of archival footage and new interviews with Steinem.

Steinem founded Ms. Magazine in 1972, contributed to Esquire, New York Magazine, and The New York TImes Magazine, among others, and wrote numerous books on this issues of equality. Her accomplishments are endless.

I always looked at the 60s and 70s as these simple times, and sometimes even wished I was born earlier, so I could have lived through these decades. But after viewing this last night, I was grateful to be born in the mid-80s. I couldn't even believe some of the injustices for women that were highlighted in the film--when it came to work, the family system, relationships. Times have changed so much thanks to women like Gloria, and it is because of them that we can work the same jobs as men, make as much money (or even more), etc. However, there is still work to be done.

Photo by Pamela Westoby

The film reminded me of something I had read online about "Slutwalks". Don't let the name turn you off, it is actually a movement started by Heather Jarvis and Sonya Barnett that started in Toronto. The walks came about after Toronto police constable Michael Sanguinetti told a group of students that to avoid rape they must "avoid dressing like sluts.” Jarvis and Barnett had enough of this "victim blaming" and so had thousands of other women. Cities all over, from Boston to Dallas, have organized Slutwalks. The founders want to change how the word "slut" is viewed and to make it known that the way a woman dresses or acts should, in no way, invite sexual assault.

If you'd like to support the movement and are in the NYC-area, come to the October 1st event. You can find out more info on Facebook here.