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Men walk a mile in heels for survivors of domestic violence

Samantha Rhodes, Managing Editor

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Any woman who’s worn high heels is familiar with the pain that often accompanies this fashionable shoe style, and soon University of Toledo men will experience this same sensation — except they’ll be walking a mile.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an annual event put on by the Panhellenic Council in which Greek women sponsor one or more men to ‘walk a mile’ around McComas Village in high heels to support the fight against domestic violence.

Most cases of domestic violence happen in the comfort of your own home and the majority of women deny or blame themselves.”

— Kalee Royster, Panhellenic Council Chairwoman

“I believe that the fight against domestic violence is one that almost every person can relate to and some women may not even realize that they are victims to this kind of abuse,” said Kalee Royster, panhellenic chairwoman for the event and a second-year majoring in biology. “Most cases of domestic violence happen in the comfort of your own home and the majority of woman deny or blame themselves.”

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, more than one in three women and more than one in four men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Statistics prove that women are more commonly the victims and the World Health Organization’s media center reports that on average, 30 percent of women who have been in a relationship say they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.

To help support this issue, Royster said half of the money raised for the event will be donated to the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter in Toledo and the remainder will go directly to RockeTHON to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Austin Pendergast is one of the men who will be racing in heels. Pendergast, a second-year pharmacy major and brother of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, was sponsored by Delta Phi Epsilon sorority.

“I chose to participate in this event because I think that it’s a large event for UT’s campus,” Pendergast said. “It sends a valuable message to not only other students of the UT community, but to others who may hear about this event and its cause.”

His strategy is simply to go into the race “with an open mind” and to do his best.

“I can’t say I have experience walking in high heels,” Pendergast said. “However, I’m up for the challenge.”

Royster said a portion of the high heels will be donated from Goodwill and Savers, others will be reused from past years and some will be purchased from the sororities sponsoring the men.

The race will take place on Tuesday, April 14 in McComas Village at 7 p.m. with check-in starting at 6:30. Anyone is welcome to watch.

According to the event’s Facebook page, the goal is for each sorority to sponsor 20 men and to cumulatively raise $1,000. Pre-registration forms are available at each sorority house and cost $10 per participant. For those registering the day of the race, it will cost $15.

Royster said pizza donated by Oasis will be given out at the event, and the first, second and third place winners of the race will receive $25 Chipotle gift cards.

“There will be sashes given out to the participants like Mr. Strut His Stuff, Mr. Highest Heels, Mr. Congeniality, et cetera,” Royster said. “The men who win the sashes with funny names will receive either a Burger King or Subway gift card.”

During the event, a body product drive will also be held to collect toiletries, makeup, hygiene items, razors, toothbrushes and other women’s essentials, which will also be donated to the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter in Toledo.

Although domestic violence impacts more women than men, Pendergast said he feels a personal responsibility to advocate for this “large issue that needs to be addressed.”

“In our society, women are conditioned and trained to know how to react when these situations occur; however, not much is done to actually prevent these situations from happening,” he said. “I believe that women should not have to live in fear of being assaulted, raped or stalked and that there needs to be a conscious effort on everyone’s behalf to end this.”

Pendergast went into detail about the measures women take to prepare themselves against male violence, all of which he thinks indicates a huge problem that men need to step up and address.

“As women enter college, one of the things their parents arm them with is mace in case they get attacked,” he said. “While it’s a good idea for women to have it just in case, I think that really shows what kind of environment is being condoned on a college campus. As a man, I believe that men can do more to prevent this from happening.”

Royster said that although she has never been a victim of domestic violence, some of her friends and close family members have not been so fortunate; however, this only drives her to work harder to advocate for the cause.

“I saw the way it hurt them, and there is no reason for any women to go through the mental and physical pain,” Royster said. “It’s incredibly important to raise awareness for this cause as well as educate people on the signs of domestic violence.

For more information or to learn how to get involved, contact Tayler Bowen at [email protected]

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