Preparations are underway for the 2018 edition of SlutWalk Guelph, an event intended to take a stand against rape culture, victim blaming, slut shaming and supporting survivors.
This year’s SlutWalk Guelph is open to all and will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 7 at its usual location in Market Square.
Last year, the march was temporarily moved to St. George's Square due to a conflicting event at Market Square.
The walk is scheduled to conclude where it started, back at Market Square.
Organizers are holding a sign-making for the event from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 5 at the Central Student Association boardroom, Room 273 at University Centre.
Sign-making materials will be provided free of charge.
According to a post on the SlutWalk Guelph Facebook page, one in every five women attending college or university will be sexually assaulted during their academic career.
“Some of these negative ramifications range from emotional, sexual, physical and poor mental health, to consequences on education and livelihood,” said the Facebook post.
The organizers of the event intend it to be a safe and open space for students to have discussion and is intended to be inclusional.
The SlutWalk movement began in Toronto in 2011 after a representative of Toronto Police Service said women needed to stop "dressing like sluts" to avoid being victimized.
Last year, SlutWalks occurred in over 250 cities in North America.
