I was told by some people pretty close to me that SlutWalk was the not the place to take my child. That this issue of women’s sexuality, attire and consent where adult issues and this was no place for a child. I ardently disagreed but decided the choice needed to be my daughters not mine, I would not make her go. So the morning of SlutWalk we sat down and I explain what had started the phenomenon in Toronto Canada. I explained that misguided belief of clothing being responsible for rape and sexual assaults was not an isolated belief but was one that permeated society as a means to excuse rapists and control the sexuality of women. I explained to her that the word Slut was one of many words created specifically for sexually active, adventurous and assertive women. I explained we were reclaiming it from those who would tear us down. I explained how this has been and is being done with words like queer, bitch, whore and feminist. I explained to her that it could be on TV and that she could be seen by friends. I explained that many people share these negative views about sexually autonomous and adventurous women and that some of her friends parents could see and may not approve. My daughter chose to come and I was very very happy to have her there with me.

Taking my daughter meant for me that her first experience of the word slut would not be the sting of some shithead flinging this insult at her because she didn’t want to fuck him but obviously liked to fuck, or from a friend who was jealous that she got more attention for her looks, or from a teacher who wanted to curtail a horny school romance, or from a stranger who wanted to make her feel small for making them attracted to her, or from a police officer who wanted to blame her rather than put responsibility solely where it truly lies. For me this meant that my daughters first experience of the word slut was a joyous proud celebration in the streets of men, women, trans, gay, straight, bi and queer sluts celebrating proudly their right to be so without scorn, judgement or threat of sexual violence. It means that when she does experience the sharp end of this word she can use this memory to fight it and for that reason I find it more important that she was there than anyone else on the walk.