Some 1,200 people took part in the march of the slut, the provocative protest march against sexual violence, rape culture and victim blaming. The parade took off from Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv to Habimah Square in the city. "The word slut is a violent social tool designed to embarrass women and cultivate violence against women," the organizers explained. "So we've claimed this word and taken away society's ability to use it against us."
This is the sixth time the march has taken place. The protesters marched in minimal attire to drive their message home: "I have the right to wear what I want and not become a sex victim." The signs carried by demonstrators included: "Being drunk does not amount to consent," "Women want safety" and "Only when I want to."
Tel Aviv Slutwalk
(צילום: מוטי קמחי)
Unlike previous marches, a large percentage of the participants were girls and adolescents. "After the group rape of girls in Herzliya http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4950070,00.html and Yehud, I decided I was coming," said Sapir, 18, from Ramat Hasharon.
According to The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, one out of every three women undergoes sexual abuse during her lifetime, one out of every seven women undergoes rape, and one out of every six girls undergoes incest.
Orit, a resident of Tel Aviv, explained that without an initiated provocation, their message would not have been taken seriously. "This is the only way men understand that women can do what they want and that as soon as they say no, it's no."
Bracha Bard, one of the leaders of the march, spoke about the female lawyer of one of the suspects in the group rape in Herzliya, who used the victim's dress and behavior as part of her client's defense. "It is inconceivable that lawyers will accuse sexual assault victims of having brought the rape on themselves, because they uploaded revealing images on Facebook," she said. "A society that is paralyzed by this phenomenon allows the next rape. And while the victim is in such a difficult situation and cannot cope with the entire procedure or the harsh social reactions to her, the suspects are released home."
The Slutwalk movement, which grew into similar protest marches around the world, was founded in Canada after a local policeman said women should stop dressing provocatively if they did not want to be raped. In Israel, sexual assault victims who come forward are often faced with accusations that what they wore had contributed to their sexual exploitation or assault.