Maui Men Take Step in Heels to End Domestic Violence

Participants in last year’s “Walk a Mile In Her Shoes” at the UHMC campus. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Another step in domestic violence education takes place during the second annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to be held this Friday, Oct. 19 at UH Maui College.

Ponolove, the University of Hawai‘i Maui College Sexual Violence Prevention Taskforce is hosting the event in collaboration with the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Women’s Center and Women Helping Women.

The Maui version of the men’s march is an internationally recognized concept organized in various communities to stop rape, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and gender violence.

Event organizers say the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event encourages men to be the leaders in the fight towards preventing violence against women, and asks men to walk a “mile” in women’s high-heeled shoes to support the saying, ”You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. this Friday at the Great Lawn of the UHMC Kahului campus and will be emceed this year by on-air talent from Pacific Radio Group.

Prior to the actual walk, there will be a General Dynamics of Domestic Violence Training at the Pilina Multi-Purpose Room that will run from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The first 200 participants will get a free t-shirt and a chance to win a $100 cash drawing.

The goal, event organizers say, is to open up communication about sexual violence and to help men better understand and appreciate women’s experiences, and it also highlights the fact that sexual violence does not just affect women but also the men, family, and friends who care about them.