On Saturday, thousands of people swarmed downtown Los Angeles in the 80 degree sun with signs, glitter, flags and t-shirts or, as was the case with some women, no shirts at all. These people of all ages, races, genders and various states of undress gathered for an event called “Amber Rose’s SlutWalk”. The name sounds a bit trashy, as if it is some sort of twerk festival, but you have to understand what the walk is all about before you go off critiquing the name.
In 2011, a Toronto police officer was speaking at a university on the topic of campus rape when said the following: “…women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The implication that women are responsible for or deserving of their own assault because of how they dressed or were perceived by men outraged many, including Sonya Barnett and Heather Jarvis. The two women organized a rally that April, protesting the culture that labels, shames and blames women for sexual assault. And with that the international SlutWalk movement was born. They hold rallies year round, all over the globe.
Which brings us to Saturday’s event and its host: model, author and famous rapper paramour Amber Rose. For those who don’t know, Amber Rose was first introduced to the mainstream in 2008 as Kanye West’s strikingly beautiful girlfriend; an enigma with an hourglass figure, sunglasses and a signature blonde, nearly bald hairstyle. The video vixen and former stripper went on to marry and divorce rapper Wiz Khalifa, have a child, and venture into her own unique pop culture brand.
But her journey was often consumed of public shaming which she shared during an emotional speech on Saturday. She told the crowd that she has been public shamed since she was 14 years old. From her most famous ex saying on national radio that he had to “take 30 showers” after dating her, to the online outrage after she, a wife and mother, released a twerk video that pretty much broke the internet last year, the world can’t get enough of judging Amber Rose. But she hasn’t taken the criticism passively. She has repeatedly spoken out about the double standards that try to force her into the narrow boxes of propriety and label her a slut, all while celebrating men for their sexual conquests.
Amber made a decision early on that she was going to be all of the things, unapologetically and at the same time. For those reasons, I have always loved Ms. Amber Rose. Amber Rose and many of the women who have participated in SlutWalks all over the world have felt those feelings too. They know what it is like to be judged based solely on choices that they have made with their own body…how they clothe it, what it looks like, and what they have, or have not chosen to do with it.
The stigma around sexual choice should never be used as a reason to treat someone poorly, disrespectful, in relationships, or invite unwanted physical attention. Nor should it used as justification for violence of any kind.
Some might say “Well that’s exactly why you shouldn’t be a slut!”
Wrong. The decisions that any of us make about our bodies and sexuality should never be based in fear of abuse or judgement.
That is what the SlutWalk is all about. And that is why I, was eager to write about my thoughts regarding Amber and all of the walkers who decided that Saturday was a perfect day to use their power, own their stories, and publicly own their right to do both.
Who could disagree with that?
ExpressionEx 
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