SAFFORD — For Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, Mt. Graham Safe House is inviting men to take a walk in women’s shoes . . . literally.
The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event will take place Friday, April 17, from 5-6 p.m., on the lawn in front of the Graham County Courthouse.
Men will have the chance to walk in high-heeled shoes, to see what women experience.
“This event is more than just putting on a pair of heels. It is a powerful opportunity to reflect on the reality many women face after experiencing sexual assault. The discomfort or awkwardness participants may feel while walking is only a very small glimpse into the pain, fear, and lasting effects that survivors can carry long after the assault itself. For many women, the emotional, mental, and even physical impact does not end in a moment. It can affect their sense of safety, trust, confidence, and daily life for a long time afterward,” Safe House officials said in a prepared release.
Some heels will be available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, participants are encouraged to bring their own. Three-inch heels or lower are recommended.
Men who participate will be entered to win a 28-inch Blackstone grill.
The Administration for Children and Families states that Sexual Assault Awareness Month “is a time for advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the community to come together to talk openly about sexual violence to support survivors, increase knowledge and awareness, and identify strategies and resources to prevent sexual violence.”
The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than half of U.S. women, and one in three men, have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact at some time in their lives, with one in four women and one in 26 men having suffered an attempted or completed rape.
Mt. Graham Safe House provides “crisis intervention, assessment, advocacy and referral as needed,” for “victims of domestic violence and their children.”
