Comments on: “Slut Walks” & Flat Taxes: TWLC’s Viviana Hurtado on NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin http://thewiselatinaclub.com/viviana-hurtado-npr-tell-me-more-rick-perry-mariah-cariah/ Wed, 22 May 2013 02:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lucy http://thewiselatinaclub.com/viviana-hurtado-npr-tell-me-more-rick-perry-mariah-cariah/#comment-417 Lucy Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:33:54 +0000 http://thewiselatinaclub.com/?p=2528#comment-417 I agree completely, American women should march on Capital Hill in lab coats. And while they’re at it, they should demand a restructuring of the education system, one that absolutely needs to include affordable post-secondary education. Without the means to achieve “lab coat” jobs, protesting will be a moot point. However, the backlash aimed at “slut walk” is somewhat misdirected, and the reasons are cultural. The walk itself was a statement: “You do not have the right to dehumanize me into a sexual object.” And, to further that, since an object is a possession, the statement is “I am neither of those, I am a person with rights.” When these basic rights are violated, everything else comes crumbling down. To fully understand such a statement, you must remember that Toronto is as culturally diverse as a city can be, with over 156 languages spoken, in a country that believes multiculturalism is a mosaic, not a melting pot. Although, for the most part, this works well and leads to tolerance and understanding, there are some drawbacks. Some girls live in fear of their fathers and brothers, and dishonoring the family (like wearing jeans, for example) is punishable by death. Not in Canada, but stories of being sent back “home” are not uncommon. If the girl runs away, or seeks shelter, another girl in her family will be punished in her stead. Granted, these girls are a small minority, but the “slut” remark by that police officer reminded the rest of the women of how close to the surface that same prejudice lies in western society. Secondly, I understand why women in the United States hate the racial stereotypes that seem to continuously flow from narrow-minded American media. It’s is appalling, and a clear tool by the status quo to keep things, well, status quo. Although stereotypes and prejudices exist everywhere, it is not institutionalized in Toronto as it is in many places in the U.S. Thirdly, I want to discredit seeing the Slut Walk as an empowerment movement based, again, on cultural differences between Toronto and cities in the United States. The publically funded education system in Ontario is among the best in the world. Last summer, an issue of the Economist ran an article that included a scatter plot of math and science test scores on a global scale and Canada was far ahead of it’s western counterparts. Math and science is very much encouraged among female students and they make up half of all IB / AP / University level classes in our high schools. Also, every December 6th, the anniversary of the Ecole Plolytechnique Massacre, Canada brings awareness to the issues of gender inequality and voilence against women. The story of the 14 young women that died because they dared to study engineering is a powerful tool in getting girls to dare themselves, and getting boys to understand equality.

In the end, I think we’re all walking for the same cause. We want our children, regardless of gender, or race, or socio-economic status, to be able to go forward in the world, without prejudice, with their unique set of skills, and make the world a better place for us all.

Ta,
Lucy

]]> By: Bren http://thewiselatinaclub.com/viviana-hurtado-npr-tell-me-more-rick-perry-mariah-cariah/#comment-409 Bren Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:59:10 +0000 http://thewiselatinaclub.com/?p=2528#comment-409 you all sure hit on a lot of relevant chatter! But the meat is, who’s wearing what!?!?!!?! Kidding! A good friend of mine wrote the move “Beauty Shop” as a sister movie to “Barber Shop”– the legalities in that in it of themselves were talk for any beauty shop! locura.

]]> By: Morena http://thewiselatinaclub.com/viviana-hurtado-npr-tell-me-more-rick-perry-mariah-cariah/#comment-408 Morena Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:33:00 +0000 http://thewiselatinaclub.com/?p=2528#comment-408 Yes, the world would be a more interesting place if the next steve jobs was a woman. A woman who dresses however she wants.

]]> By: Lisa Quinones-Fontanez http://thewiselatinaclub.com/viviana-hurtado-npr-tell-me-more-rick-perry-mariah-cariah/#comment-407 Lisa Quinones-Fontanez Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:57:51 +0000 http://thewiselatinaclub.com/?p=2528#comment-407 Helena & I have the same idea! I will gladly join on both on those steps :)

]]> By: Helena http://thewiselatinaclub.com/viviana-hurtado-npr-tell-me-more-rick-perry-mariah-cariah/#comment-406 Helena Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:12:56 +0000 http://thewiselatinaclub.com/?p=2528#comment-406 “Who wants to join me clad in a white lab coat, an astronaut suit, or Steve Job’s iconic black turtleneck and Levi’s (make those skinny jeans) on the steps of Capital Hill?” Me!

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