Solange De-Ré talks about the Slut Walk Sao Paulo

Last week (June 5th), Paulista Avenue received a demonstration entitled Slutwalk, which has become well known worldwide. It started last January, when a girl was sexually abused in Toronto, Canada. The judge in charge of the incident said that women should not dress like sluts. It was the starting point of a demonstration against this sort of mentality. Several countries have already participated in the "Slutwalk", organized by girls that have something to say about this issue.

SlutWalk Sao Paulo 2011 - Avenida Paulista

Inside Sao Paulo had the chance to interview one of the organizers of this demonstration in Sao Paulo. Solange De-Ré is the author of the blog talkingvaca. She and some of her friends took the initiative to bring the event to Brazil. Read on to see what she has to say:

What are your thoughts on the Slut Walk?
It was the right time. This is the country of Carnival, and when it ends, does everyone become a moralist? When the carnival ends, does wearing short clothes mean you’re a whore?

De-Ré and Mado

Did you get idea on the SlutWalk originated in Canada?
I've got a blog where we’ve been talking about these issues for a while now (since 2008). Coincidentally, my main issue is the relationship between men and women in society, this sort of thing. Mado (one of three organizers of the first Slut Walk in Brazil) saw the story on the internet and told me about it, and asked me to arrange a meeting with some people to ask what everyone thought, to try to discuss it. Our idea was to gather about 50 people, but we were surprised because it became something much bigger. It’s not something to be happy about, because that means the problem is serious here in Brazil. However, we are happy for people to come forward and say they are uncomfortable with this, that these women were willing to participate. It has been very positive.

So, it is bringing up this issue ... 
We got in touch with the organizers from Canada.

Do you think there is something specific from this issue that needs to be discussed in Brazil? Something that deserves more emphasis?
Yes, the foremost issue -- apart of the poor treatment women receive -- is violence. It’s too common around here. I know of cases of people close to me, and they’re independent of social class -- people who are from privileged social classes have been beaten by their husbands and think they deserve it. Nobody deserves it!

Do you think that, by bringing this to the street, you can promote a discussion about it?
Yes. But we have to take it back inside the houses where the dad, when raising his children, says the male child has complete freedom to do anything he wants and where sons are even encouraged to have multiple female partners, and where daughters are simultaneously forced to behave and not to embarrass the family. Girls must be concerned about the way they dress, the way they speak; Girls have to hide their number of sexual partners, because otherwise no one will marry them. Is this country free or not?

But do you believe that this old-fashioned behavior and ideas still influence the younger generation?
Yes, certainly. One thing that apparently has nothing to do with the other groups but the Nazis. Look, Nazi group in Latin America? We are all descendants of blacks and Indians. These groups spread exaggerated machismo which says that there needs to be a man to “break in” the woman. We still see stories of violence in the news, and almost are all young people between 16 and 18 years old. In newspapers, we see the news that a husband killed his wife, or of high school couples, where a boyfriend killed the girlfriend. It’s cultural.

Do you think the name "Marcha das Vadias" (Slut Walk) had an impact?

It's an ironic name. The women are very afraid of the name that they can receive from men and other women also. There is also a machismo between women. Girls call each other "slut" when they want to tease or insult each other.

While waiting to interview you, a guy came and asked me what was happening. I explained that it was the Slut Walk, and he said, “Nice!”
The name strikes a cord because we're not used to using the word in a good way. But we’re using it ironically. It’s a word we [women] always hear from people wanting to offend us. Some people say they do not want to be part of the slutwalk because they are not whores. But above all, any woman that is called a “slut” or a “whore” is still a woman: in some cases, she’s a woman that maybe didn't have the same chances I did, and who finds herself offering what she has just to make some money. There are bigger problems in Brazil, like political corruption, child abuse and illegal trafficking of wild animals. The fact that women are selling themselves is their choice. They should be free to do what they want.

The SlutWalk Sao Paulo brought in around 300 people, and it was a peaceful demonstration. Sao Paulo has hosted several popular events, and most of the recent ones were organized via Facebook and other social networks. Keep following Inside Sao Paulo to find out about more events like this one.