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MEN AND WOMEN took to the streets today for Ireland’s first ever SlutWalk, in protest against the treatment of rape victims.
The protest took place in Galway, with around 100 people dressing up to highlight social attitudes to sexual assault.
It follows similar events earlier this year in cities across the world – sparked by an incident in Toronto where a police officer said women should avoid being raped by not dressing like “sluts”. Since then, the protests have seen crowds turn out dressed in their most provocative clothing to criticise this mindset.
The protest in Galway City Centre was organised by the NUI Galway Student Union, as well as the Rape Crisis Network Ireland. NUIG Equality Officer William O’Brien said the aim was to “challenge society’s perception of victims of sexual assault, and how we treat them”. He added:
We were delighted with the turnout considering the horrible weather we had this morning. There was a lot of attention from people in the town, a lot of whistling and a lot of support.
Fiona Neary, director of the Rape Crisis Network said dressing provocatively was an integral part of the protest’s message. “The message is, dressing like this does not invite disrespect, and it does not invite anyone to behave in a criminal way towards me,” she said.
Gallery: Ireland’s SlutWalk – and others around the world
All Galway photos courtesy of Rape Crisis Network Ireland.
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Judging from the clothing in the Galway pics, they rather missed the point of a the SlutWalk!
You see worse on a sat night in any small town or city. Poor effort really.
It’s a bit hard to wear slutty clothes when there’s a hurricane blowing in from the Atlantic!
So ye just had a walk then.
Right Eoin, and what exactly do you think the purpose of the walk was?
This walk was centred around the idea of consent and to highlight the prominence of victim blaming, which is really common in Ireland….
I’m sorry if you were a bit let down and didn’t get a bit of a free peek at some college girls!!!!
Seriously tho. Think the first 2 lads are right. Was thinking it’s a bit cold in Ireland but effort score is just poor.
I use to work in templebar and I can tell you no matter what the weather some girls would wear next to nothing on a night out. To me this was just a reason for students to skip college. Even reading sone of the posters I think sone of the participants missed the point
Cormac it was at lunchtime so no one missed anything nor were they all students
Would they be safe if they did?
I was there in an observational capacity for the college newspaper… and yes nights out different story but you must remember alcohol has an anti-freeze effect…
Rubbish
In fairness, let’s hope for the sake of Ireland’s ladies international image these images aren’t posted alongside cape town et al’s slut walk images ever again. You see guys dress sluttier in drag at a stag night. It seems in these images, that the dungaree clad feminists outweigh slutty girls in Ireland, therefore the whole point of the Slutwalk is made rather redundant.
That avatar is a bonkers. Ignore it, its either a troll or indicates some deeper issues.
But your point about feminism working for equality….. also rubbish. Where is the feminist march to protest the blatant discrimination against fathers in the Irish courts? Much of feminism is a “union” movement for women. As such, good luck but I find it hard to support partisan movements.
Feminism = The idea that grown women can demand to be treated as children whenever it is convenient
Please explain?
Feminism is cross gender and when applied works towards equality for both genders.
Linking nazi symbols to the female gender!!! I’m getting pretty worried here journal.ie
I think it’s wonderful that there is a global movement by women marching in the streets in their bras and panties, demanding to be called sluts. I’ve been waiting for this all my life. I will be happy to call you women “sluts”!
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