Male Students Wear Heels at Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event
More than 100 men walked (or attempted to walk) around Memorial Field in red high-heeled shoes on April 12 in an effort to raise awareness about sexualized violence against women.
For the fourth year, Widener participated in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an international men’s march aimed at highlighting the causes, effects, and remediation to rape, sexual assault, and gender violence.
“Today, we are here to say no more to sexual assault and emphasize the importance of standing with the survivors of these atrocious attacks,” said David McCann, a senior finance major and vice president for standards and operations for the Interfraternity Council. “Today, we are here to raise our heels for those who cannot.”
The walk was hosted by the Interfraternity Council, in collaboration with the Office of Student Life, Pride Recreation Center, College Panhellenic Council, Intercultural Greek Council, Club Sports, and the Title IX Office.
This year’s walk featured guest speaker Erica Webster, the founder and CEO of Dub Fitness, a women’s fitness center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Webster was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and is active in the veterans’ community. She sits on the Board of Directors of The Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network.
After the male students and staff traded their sneakers for heels, Webster told them she was proud of the message they were sending.
“I am in awe that there are men who will go put on women’s shoes and walk laps – understanding the pain that women feel everyday walking in heels, but also making time to let women feel important,” Webster said.
Webster, who spent her seven-year career in the Military Police Corps, said she noticed a stigma and victim blaming in the military and beyond that has prevented women from speaking out.
“I challenge you to find a victim – someone who wants to talk to you and tell you their story,” she said. “So this way you can have that empathy and hear the details of what happened and how it affected their lives. You need to advocate for those women and ensure they feel heard and protected.”
While a playful event, the male students said it helped them understand and appreciate women’s experiences.
“This wasn’t to say we walked a mile in a pair of women’s shoes,” said McCann, who is also a member of Alpha Tau Omega and the Men’s Rugby Club. “It was to say that we will no longer tolerate these violent acts of sexual assault or violence against women.”
Female students from campus organizations cheered on their male counterparts as they circled Memorial Field. They held signs saying ‘Remember Why You’re Doing This’ and ‘Keep Walking.’
Valerie Coll, a senior nursing major and vice president of standards and operations for the College Panhellenic Council, said she was proud to see men on campus helping create a culture that stands up to sexual assault.
“People don’t realize who victims are – it could be your mom, your sister, your friend,” Coll said. “We need to talk about sexual assault and make sure people are not afraid to reach out for help. We want to make sure they are supported and don’t have to stay quiet.”
