NOW at FIU raises awareness of rape culture

The National Organization of Women at FIU gathered on March 1 at the Modesto Madique Campus in the GC pit to raise awareness of violence against women and to let people know about its upcoming “Slutwalk” event.

Linda Guillotti, the president of NOW at FIU, was sexually assaulted and stabbed as a child. Throughout her life, the last thing Guillotti said she wanted to tell people was that she was a victim.

“I was silent my whole life, but that silence tore me up,” she said.

Guillotti said she now lives to protect other young women and members of the LGBTQ community who are vulnerable to rape culture.

She said the point of a Slutwalk – an in-your-face approach to stopping victim blaming –  is that it opens up a space where women are safe to talk about rape culture. It is also a way to counteract the fact that victims of sexual assault are often blamed for “dressing provocatively” or “asking for it.”

Guillotti wished she had spoken years ago but she was never secure.

“But if I had a room full of women that have gone through the same experience, maybe I would get that courage,” she said.

The Slutwalk is scheduled to take place on April 3 at 5 p.m. at the FIU Housing Quad

“Just because girls are having fun doesn’t mean that we deserve to be raped,” said Guillotti.

Mark Saavedra is a senior at Florida International University, pursuing a degree in Broadcast Media. In his spare time, Saavedra runs a sports podcast called “Mic'd Up Sports” as well its social media accounts.

 

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