Story Category: The Bay Net Exclusives »

Sunday, April 1st 2012, Walden Sierra and St. Mary’s College of Maryland hosted the second annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. Viewers came out to see a crowd of enthusiastic men, don the iconic high heel in effort, both to show solidarity with women, and to bring about awareness of sexual and gender violence. 

Laughter was often on the faces of the participants and audience, as men attempted to race in high heels. Among the participants, were a family who completed the laps together, high school and college students, and business leaders, and concerned citizens. 

20 years ago a young boy sitting next to his older brother, witnessed violence against women first hand, and in a futile effort tried to end it, running up to the attacker, the boy’s father and his mother’s husband at the time, the toddler began kicking at his father’s legs. The now 22 year old sways his hips in red high heels, having seen the effects of gender and sexual violence second handedly, the young man is passionate about raising awareness to end it.

“Sexualized violence does not just affect women” The event’s website reads, further stating that men are affected by sexualized violence through interaction with the women who experience it, and this is a reason why men should be involved in the fight to end it.

For more information on Walk a Mile in Her Shoes please visit 

http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/