Brazil: SlutWalks Spread Across the Country

This post is part of our special coverage SlutWalks 2011/12.

On May 26 and 27, 2012, a number of cities around Brazil were the scene of the second round of protests known as SlutWalks.

Calling for women's liberty and the right of women to dress as they want without being the victims of violence or moralism, thousands of women, as well as heterosexual men, gays, transvestites and even members of groups such as bikers, skaters, skinheads, punks and anarchists took to the streets in Brasilia, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis, Fortaleza and Belém – amongst other cities – to protest against homophobia and in defence of feminism, or rather, in defence of equality.

Manu Baren, from the blog Jezebel, commented [pt] on what he saw while covering the Walk:

Homage to the SlutWalks by the cartoonist Carlos Latuff. Under CC licence

[…] no evento encontrei uma proposta sensata, séria e com objetivos claros alertar e protestar contra a violência contra as mulheres. De todo tipo: desde física até sexual e moral. Fui tocada pela coragem de jovens, mães e senhoras que expuseram para uma multidão as suas histórias sobre abusos que, em alguns casos, levaram à morte.

[…] at the event I found a sensible and serious proposal, with a clear aim to draw attention to and protest against violence against women. Of all kinds: from physical to sexual and moral. I was touched by the courage of the young people, mothers and older women who exposed their stories of abuses which, in some cases,had led to death, to the crowd.

The SlutWalk originated in Canada, when on April 3rd 2011 thousands of women protested in Toronto against the declarations made by police officer Michael Sanguinetti following a series of cases of sexual abuse in the city, stating that women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to avoid becoming victims of rape.

Since then, similar protests have taken place around the world with women dressed in short skirts or even half-naked and affirming that this does not mean that they would like to or give their permission to be raped or abused.

Following the example of the previous year, Global Voices has selected a series of photos from protests in various Brazilian cities. More than three thousand protestors attended the event in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, more than a thousand in São Paulo, and hundreds in each of the other cities.

In São Paulo the Walk covered 3 kilometres, passing along the famous Rua Augusta, a meeting point for alternative groups and the location of various brothels and artistic venues.

SlutWalk São Paulo 2012. Photo by Renato Batata copyright Demotix (26/05/2012)

Protestors hold placards saying "Freedom and Equality". Photo by Renato Batata copyright Demotix (26/05/2012)

"I didn´t come from your rib, it was you who came from my womb". Photo by Renato Batata copyright Demotix (26/05/2012)

"When I grow up, I want to be whatever I want". Photo by Cecília Santos, used with permission

Two videos of the protest in São Paulo: the first by Manu Barem and Thiago Guimarães contains sections of the speeches made at the beginning of the Walk and scenes of the Walk itself, and the second contains scenes of the Walk and the slogans shouted by the protestors:

In Rio de Janeiro, the protest took place in Copacabana with hundreds of people attending.

Placards at the start of the Walk. Photo by Camila Prott, used with permission

"Don´t teach us how to dress, teach men not to rape". Photo by Camila Prott, used with permission

Video from YouTube user vecosi of the Walk in Rio de Janeiro:

The streets of Belo Horizonte were also taken over by protestors on 26 May.

The crowd marching. Photo by Pedro Rennó, used with permission

Free women, free bodies. Photo by Pedro Rennó, used with permission

There was no shortage of children at the protests. Photo by Camila Xavier, used with permission

Youtube user raquelpinheirocintra recorded this video during the Walk in Belo Horizonte:

In Brasília the Walk passed through the very centre of Brazilian power.

"We are all free". Photo by Lívia Mota, used with permission

Crowd walks through Brasilia. Profile picture of SlutWalk Brasilia, free use.

Many men also attended. Photo by Rogério Tomaz Jr, used with permission

More photos from the SlutWalk in Brasilia on the Walk's official profile on Facebook. YouTube user kyaya1 recorded a series of videos of the Walk: this is part 4.

A small but lively protest also took place in Belém on May 27.

Few in number, but very lively. Photo by Marjorie Begot, used with permission

"I am mine, only mine, I do not belong to anyone who wants". Photo by Marjorie Begot, used with permission

More photos from the SlutWalk in Belém on the official profile on Facebook and a video from Youtube user Zemafarias.

Protests also took place in Fortaleza, São Luis and Vitória.

"Move aside male chauvinism, feminism is coming through". SlutWalk in Vitória. Photo by Adrielley Caliman, used with permission

Children abound in Fortaleza. Photo by Jaci Marques, used with permission

"It´s her body, she´ll give it to who she wants". Protest in São Luis. Photo from the Anel collective, free use.

Youtube user naainai recorded a short video of the Walk in Vitória.

In Recife, more than 1,100 people came out into the streets to protest. Photos of the Walk can be found [pt] on the blog Literatura clandestina (Clandestine literature) and on the Walk's Facebook group. Blogger Lúcio Mustafá recorded a video of the Walk in Recife. More photos on the Flickr account of Leo Cisneiros.

The Walk also took place in Florianópolis.

Protestors gathering for the Walk. Photo by Rodrigo Botarro, used with permission

"My desire is my desire". Photo by Yuri Brah, used with permission

"Jesus loves sluts". The protest passed by the steps of a temple of the Universal Church, a conservative evangelical denomination. Photo by Yuri Brah, used with permission

Finally, on Sunday 27 the SlutWalk took over Porto Alegre.

"Rape has no justification". Photo by Pablo Capilé, free use

Photo from the Fora do Eixo Collective, under CC licence

"A man without a shirt is a) hot or b) asking to be raped, of course. Doesn´t it seem silly the other way round?". Photo by Rodrigo Cardia, used with permission

Youtube users ElbaOliveira1 and mayluka09 recorded videos of manifesto readings in São José dos Campos in the São Paulo province, as did lalgarra in Sorocaba from where photos can be viewed on the Walk's Facebook group. The Foque Collective recorded a video of the Walk in Natal and avmandrade recorded the Walk in Salvador.

This post is part of our special coverage SlutWalks 2011/12.