Kathleen Rowe-Glendon: Going extra mile to confront domestic violence

Every 107 seconds in the United States, someone is sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Four of every five rapes are committed by someone known to the victim; roughly two-thirds of those assaults are not reported to law enforcement.

Why? Often the victim feels shame for the incident or knows that society often blames the victim not the rapist. That fact might account for this fact: 98 percent of rapists never see the inside of a jail or prison cell.

Here in Stanislaus County, according to Point2 Homes (a site that details county demographics for prospective homebuyers), the risk for being sexually assaulted is higher than the national average.

Taken together these statistics are horrifying, and it is vital that we shine a light on and bring attention to our community’s attitudes regarding sexual violence.

Locally, Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus is doing just that.

On April 16, 2016, Haven is hosting its third Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to raise money to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Walk a Mile is designed for men as a call for action in our community about the serious causes, effects and accountability regarding sexualized violence. Last year Haven was able to raise enough money to assist 2,200 survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in this county.

While the issue is deadly serious, Walk a Mile is a playful event designed to educate our community regarding sexual violence. The old saying, “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” embodies the idea – and hope – that by bringing this issue to the forefront of our consciousness, then, perhaps, we can work toward a community-based solution that crosses all gender lines.

Male participants literally don red high-heeled shoes and walk a mile in downtown Modesto to raise funds so that Haven can provide desperately needed services to its clients – women escaping from domestic violence.

Men can choose to form a team, join a team or walk individually. There is a lot of joy, laughter and blisters as these brave souls attempt to navigate this walk in red high heels in order to shine a light on a very serious issue. Including men in what is archaically perceived as a woman’s concern is vital and crucial to keeping this conversation going in an inclusive fashion. Bringing this very dark topic out into the light of day will make it possible for us to confront, if not eradicate, sexual violence in our community.

To participate and/or donate, call 209-524-4331 or go to www.havenwalkamile.org for more information.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Kathleen Rowe-Glendon: Going extra mile to confront domestic violence."