Slut walks: Are they helping to bring about change?

About 1,000 people participated in the Toronto Slut Walk on Sunday, April 3, 2011. (Ivy Cuervo/CBC News)

By CBC News

A group of Toronto marchers took to the streets on April 3, 2011, in what they called a "slut walk" in response to controversial comments made by a police constable earlier this year.

In January, Toronto Police Const. Michael Sanguinetti told a personal security class at York University that "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized."
Sanguinetti apologized for his comments, but his apology failed to satisfy walk organizer Sonya Barnett.
 
"It was evident that if you're going to have a representative of the police force come out [and say that] then that kind of idea must be still running rampant within the force itself and that retraining really needs to happen to change that mentality," she said.

A statement on the event's website says: "Toronto Police have perpetuated the myth and stereotype of the slut, and in doing so have failed us."

Barnett said she wants to use the walk to reclaim the word and also demand that victim-shaming change.

Since the first walk was held in Toronto, other "slut walks" have been cropping up around the world. A walk was held in Boston on May 7, and further events are planned for American states - including California, Florida, Louisiana, New York, Washington and Wisconsin - as well as international locations ranging from Argentina to Sweden to the UK.
 
Read more.

Would you ever participate in a slut walk event? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

(This is not a scientific survey. It is based on readers' responses)