Northwest hosted Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and Take Back the Night April 2. The annual events are a part of national movements to end gendered sexual violence.
Nationally, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes aims to “actively confront gender stereotypes and expectations,” and it does this by having participating men walk one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes, according to its website. The action seeks to bring awareness to causes, effects and solutions to sexualized violence that stem from sexual and gender biases
Junior Jackson Faulkner is the vice president of philanthropy and financial services for Northwest’s Interfraternity Council. While he has participated in this event for the last two years, this was his first year coordinating it. His role was raising awareness for the cause and making sure the event had a good turnout.
“The whole event itself is to raise awareness for sexual assault, sexual violence,” Faulkner said. “We’ll all wear some red heels to fully walk a mile in her shoes and kind of give us the perspective of women and how they may have to deal with, you know, different challenges and perspectives in their lives. And so we are not only mentally, but we are physically taking a walk in another woman’s shoes.”
The fraternity life members participating began their stroll outside the J.W. Jones Student Union at the Memorial Bell Tower, where they walked to the Nodaway County Courthouse at 305 N. Main St. and back. Faulkner said he hoped the event raised awareness for gender differences in the community and showed support to anyone who has been victimized.
