On a sunny and blustery Saturday afternoon in downtown Truckee, more than two dozen manly men confirmed their macho might by sauntering down the main road in high heels. It was the first annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, hosted on Oct. 3 by Tahoe Women’s Services (TWS) to raise awareness about the tragedy of domestic and family violence. The men were walking in solidarity to voice their opposition to this intolerable reality.
While in the end they were there for the same reason, the debonair dudes’ original reasons for participating differed. Some were dared, coerced or otherwise pushed (i.e. bullied) into participating. Others unfalteringly said they were there to support the vital role TWS plays in the community.
As the walk began, the men were smiling, happy, eager to please and hoping to win an award for best strut, nicest legs, etc. A young man named Ryan said rhe was hoping to receive a few catcalls from the ladies on the sidelines to get that real feeling of walking in her shoes. It was a fitting comment because the point of the day was developing compassion.
Truckee Police Chief Nicholas Sensley stressed that the fear of losing security and family keeps people in violent relationships. Despite the ‘atrocity that occurs in the privacy of homes,’ he said, the ‘biggest shelter is the fear.’
As the walk progressed, it was plain to see that walking a mile in anyone’s shoes but your own can be challenging. Initially, a man named Aaron thought he was ready for a night on the town with his happy heels. Yet as the minutes passed he was convinced that no matter how stylish heels are, he would always choose his flip-flops. The only good reason to wear heels, in his final opinion, is to raise awareness about the tragedy of domestic and family violence.
‘(It’s) important to understand why people stay (in domestic violence relationships),’ said TWS volunteer Christine McCleary. ‘It’s harder than some people think. You can’t just leave.’
Info: tahoewomenservices.org.
