Our VOICE is excited to be hosting Walk A Mile in Her Shoes on Saturday April 24th in downtown Asheville. This is the 9th year for the International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault, and Gender Violence and we are proud to be bringing this event to Asheville.

Last year, over 300 such walks were held across the country and tens of thousands of men (women and children too!) put on high heeled shoes as a symbolic gesture to walk in solidarity with women.  This visually riveting community event is a great opportunity for your business to show support for the men who are taking a stand against violence.  It is also a great way to let the community know you care about women’s issues and are willing to take a stand against sexual violence.

Join Honorary Chair, Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan, Asheville City Councilmen Cecil Bothwell and Gordon Smith and hundreds of other outstanding men in our community who are not afraid to Walk the Walk!

Sexual violence does not just affect women. It affects the men who care about them, their families, friends, coworkers, and their communities. Every two minutes someone in America is raped. 1 in 6 American women are victims of sexual assault. That means someone you know, someone you care about, has or will become the victim of sexual violence. It may be your mother, sister, friend, girlfriend, wife, coworker, or daughter. No one is unaffected.

Isn’t this making fun of a serious issue?

Having fun with a serious issue and adding “shock value” brings attention to the cause and therefore raises awareness about sexual violence.  The goal of the Walk is to bring light to a subject that is all too often left in the dark. By focusing on the positive aspect of a community coming together around this topic, the Walk strives to empower individuals to take a stand against sexual violence.

Doesn’t this just promote gender stereotyping?

The concept of men wearing high heels is meant to make a commentary on gender roles in our society.  It is representative of men taking a stand on a topic that has since been viewed as only a women’s issue.  It provides an opportunity for men to dispute the harmful attitudes and behaviors that condone sexual violence in our community.