Toronto Police 'Slut" Slur is a SYSTEMIC Discourse That Should Not Be Forgotten

I have to say I am amazed by the powerful pulling together of the feminist community and all communities during this TRAUMATIZING time. 

While we are pulling together in action and solidarity we need to keep in mind that this 'victim-blaming,' misogynist, sexist, uninformed, patriarchal discourse that was shown by the slut slur is not merely isolated to the police force...but traverses into all other societal institutions as well.  This language can be seen within many forms of social media, rape reports, LANGUAGE, gender, sexuality, sex ed courses, some parental teachings.. to name but a few examples.

I think this presents the feminist community, queer community, humanist community and ALL for an opportunity to come together to EDUCATE and MAKE SOME NOISE about these deeply ingrained ideologies that have been formulated on a long withstanding, complex history. Further, it will allow us to to force accountability of York University, all universities, and the Toronto Police force.

We should all recall through the powerful work of Jane Doe after her stranger danger rape in 1989 the changes in major legislation she allowed surrounding police practices on rape, laws regarding women in the court room during their rape trials and most importantly EDUCATED about rape discourse. The fact of the matter is however, not disregarding her passion and hard work, these discourses are STILL in play since 1989 and no substantive changes have been made since then.

Further, we should recall that during this period Jane Doe changed the law to force the police to warn women in the community when there is a serial rapist in the area. However, as we can see at York University this summer it took the police THREE MONTHS to warn women that there was a serial rapist in The Village after multiple REPORTED rapes as it was not deemed as a threat to the community until AFTER they had a male in custody.  Who defines what this 'threat' to community is then? Quite obviously, the misogynist tactics embedded within the police force. (and there are MANY other examples that could be named but I will leave it at this)

It is during this time of action that we need to recall of these this tactics employed by Jane Doe  have not fully been brought into fruition.  It is during this time we need to recall the systemic HISTORY of language, legislation, medical practices, religious morality, capitalistic economic structure and gendered violence etc... 

Bravo for solidarity, bravo for strength and courage. Make some fucking noise!! 

-Melanie