Singaporean women are preparing to take part in the local
version of the SlutWalk on Dec 4 at Hong Lim Park. STOMPer Handsome
Boy wonders if this movement is really necessary in Singapore, and
if it might send out the wrong message to the young.
He also questions why some women take offence when men stare at
them, even though they are aware they are dressed in a sexy
manner.
The first SlutWalk took place on April 3 in Toronto, Canada, after
a police officer said that "women should avoid dressing like sluts
in order not to be vicitimised".
In response to this statement, Women took to the streets wearing
skimpy outfits to promote women's rights and not blaming the
victims in sex offences.
According to The New Paper, in the Singapore version of the
SlutWalk, however, women do not have to dress like 'sluts' to take
part -- they can turn up in anything, from jeans to T-shirt.
Organisers say that one does not need to identify with being a
'slut' to participate, because the objective is to express
sexuality without fear.
One supporter of the SlutWalk movement, permanent resident Miss Fei
Wong, 32, feels that it is time for women to reclaim their right to
express their sexuality without fear.
The regional assistant director of sales recalls how she was stared
at by an elderly man as she walked past him in a body-hugging
outfit.
She said:
"That elderly man was staring down at me, as if he was mentally
raping me. I asked him in Hokkien: 'Uncle, what are you looking
at?' Then he looked away."
"When a woman dresses up, she is bound to get some attention, but
she is not asking for rape."
STOMPer Handsome Boy, however, challenges the relevance of having a
SlutWalk in Singapore. He said:
"First of all, I would like to say that I'm all for women's
rights.
"But I don't know if this whole SlutWalk thing is necessary or
relevant in Singapore, or if it's just another copycat idea by
women here who think that just because some women in a Western
country is affected by it, they should be too.
"And I worry that because the word 'slut' is used for the movement
(even if the ultimate objective is to promote women's rights),
young girls might get the wrong message -- thinking that dressing
provocatively is OK.
"I'm not saying that it's not all right for women to dress sexy
(not naughty), but if they feel that they have the right to dress
the way they like, then it's not fair for them to get upset when
men stare at them, because the men can argue that they are free to
look at whatever they like too!
"It's human nature for men to be attracted to pretty and sexy
women, and let's face it -- some men take glances, others stare.
That's how it is in the real world.
"So while I agree that rape victims should never be blamed, no
matter how they are dressed, I also feel that women should be
realistic if about certain things.
"If they are dressed in a sexy manner, they are bound to get
attention, whether they like it or not.
"So I just feel that it's unfair for women to blame guys for
staring when they feel that they have the right to dress sexy."
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/802732/slutwalk_spore_if_women_have_the_right_to_dress_sexy.html
