Now this will sort out the men from the boys.
The Howe Sound Women's Centre is looking for men to walk a mile in women's shoes to pledge their support against domestic abuse and sexual violence on Saturday (Sept. 12).
The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser makes a powerful symbolic statement about their men's role in fighting violence against women, said Tara Franz, the executive director of the Howe Sound Women's Centre.
"Historically speaking, this is something we have never done, an event that was centred around men showing their support for stopping violence against women," Franz said.
She said by walking in the women's shoes, men would express solidarity with the women and send out a message that any kind of violence against is not acceptable.
The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser will start from the centre at 11 a.m. and for 15 minutes, men will strut around in their stilettos on Cleveland Avenue, before coming back to the centre again.
Mayor Greg Gardner and Squamish Nations council member Dale Harry are one of the eight men who have already registered for the event.
Those who are men enough to strap on their heels are also encouraged to ask for pledges or sponsorships to support the women's centre in their fundraising efforts.
The walk, Franz hopes, will also dispel the patriarchal image associated with a logger's town.
"The message the men will be sending is that we are progressive, we are modern and that Squamish is not a community with just old school values," she said.
Eric Armour, the owner of Trinity Romance Shop, would be one of those walking down Cleveland Avenue in a three-inch high heel shoe. He's looking forward to it.
"It's just neat the way they have incorporated men in this whole thing. It's not just women's issues and it is something that will help everyone to understand the issues," he said.
The centre is hoping at least 25 men will come forward to walk. Men can register for a fee of $5 and can also rent a high heel shoe for $15.
The women's centre is also hoping to garner at least $5,000 from the community. The centre suffered a set back this year when it didn't receive the $20,000 it has always received from the BC gaming commission.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an international men's march that was started in 2001 by Frank Bird, a volunteer at the Valley Trauma Counselling Centre in California.
Despite the strong feminist movement in North America, women still face harassment and violence. According to Statistics Canada, one in every two women is the victim of at least one act of physical or sexual violence after the age of 16.
