High-heeled marchers in Modesto raise awareness and funds to fight domestic violence, sexual assault

The scene in downtown Mdesto on Saturday morning carried plenty of good humor – a crowd of men marching in women’s high-heeled shoes – but the event was geared to raise awareness and funds for a serious subject: domestic violence and sexual assault. Haven Women’s Center’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event began at the Gallo Center for the Arts, with participating men and boys feeling the pinch of female footwear. The march invited men to share in the experience of wearing shoes that are “uncomfortable, impractical, but expected,” May Rico, interim executive director of the Haven Women’s Center, said in a news release. “Our hope is that long after the march has ended, men and boys will continue to think of other experiences shared by women, such as living with the threat of sexual violence, and seek ways to continue to take a stand against sexual abuse.”

This story was originally published April 25, 2015 at 8:09 PM with the headline "High-heeled marchers in Modesto raise awareness and funds to fight domestic violence, sexual assault."