Men wear heels to prevent rape
You may have noticed an unusually high number of people with high heels and hairy legs on campus Wednesday.
The Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office held the third annual Walk-A-Mile-in-Her-Shoes sexual assault awareness event, featuring 141 men each walking at least a mile in high-heeled shoes. The event was part of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month and was designed to involve men in what is often seen as a women’s problem, said Rachel Brighton, SAAVI coordinator.
“This event uses humor in an appropriate way, to make it easier to talk about a difficult topic like sexual violence,” Brighton said.
In addition to raising awareness, the event raised money by selling t-shirts and seeking pledges from citizens and organizations in the valley, Brighton said. The money raised goes to the SAAVI office and other sexual assault prevention and education groups, such as the all-male group 1-in-4.
Each hour from 10:20 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., participants donned brightly colored high heels and walked a mile-long course through some of the most high-traffic areas on campus. The final leg of the route brought walkers through the main hall of the TSC and onto the TSC patio, where music played and balloons blew in the wind. There were also tables displaying information about sexual assault prevention and representatives from groups such as the USU Counseling Center and the Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency.
Kaleb Cranney, who took part in the event, said he decided to make the walk because he saw the trauma two of his friends experienced when they were raped, and he wanted to help prevent and raise awareness of sexual assault.
Kevin Crouch, who made the walk in a pair of pink 4-inch heels, said he participated to support a good cause and see what it was like to walk in high heels.
“I specifically looked for the cutest shoes I could find,” Crouch said. “That was the most painful mile I’ve ever walked,” he added.
A new study says one-third of women in Utah will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetimes, Brighton said. Though sexual assault is usually carried out against women, about 3 percent of victims each year are male, she said. SAAVI’s goal is to prevent sexual assault against both men and women and to provide support to victims.
Event organizers tried to find the most colorful, extravagant shoes possible for the event. Many of the shoes came from donations or the thrift store Deseret Industries, and many were special-ordered to accommodate large male feet, Brighton said. The biggest shoes available were women’s size 13-wide. High heels come in sizes up to 17, which would fit a man who wears men’s size 15, but shoes that large cost more than event organizers had to spend, Brighton said. Decorated men’s shoes were available for those whose feet were too big or who didn’t want to risk ankle injuries.
Women also participated in the walk, as “blister sisters,” helping organize and run the event or walking along with the men to provide moral and sometimes physical support. Samantha Noll said she took part to support the cause, support the guys and give advice on walking in high heels.
“Some of these guys have done really well,” Noll said. “I’m really surprised at how many guys did it.”
Television news crews from several stations, including Fox 13 and KSL were on hand to cover the event. Many of the participants were members of the USU football team or local police departments.
“This is our most popular event every year,” Brighton said. “It’s the event people always remember. Even if they don’t remember what it was for, they always remember the guys in the high heels.”
-dfelix@cc.usu.edu