Justice

Amber Rose Just Took a Major Stand Against Slut Shaming

October 3rd 2015

Model Amber Rose hosted SlutWalk LA in Pershing Square on Saturday morning to fight sexist stereotypes about women. Rose, who tweeted that thousands were signed up to attend the gathering, said earlier this summer that the SlutWalk was important to her because she faces constant slut shaming on social media and in real life, she doesn't want this for herself or other women. Earlier this month, Rose participated in a Funny or Die video challenging the stigma for women surrounding the "walk of shame" to promote the SlutWalk.

The actual "SlutWalk" around downtown Los Angeles didn't start until 11:15 a.m., but the gathering had artwork on display, a "Wall Of No Shame," and various activities available to attendees beforehand:

Amber Rose at SlutWalkLALaura Donovan Instagram - instagram.com

California State University Northridge students Shrayven Wells, 22, and Nikki Bryant, 25, told ATTN: in an interview that they came to SlutWalk because policemen accused them of being prostitutes when they were walking around Soto Avenue in the San Fernando Valley area of Southern California after work one night several years ago. At the time, they were waiting to meet up with Bryant's then-boyfriend.

Shrayven Wells and Nikki BryantNicole Charky

"We had on regular work clothes, we have to go to work," Bryant said, adding they worked as customer service associates. "We had like jeans and pants on."

"Once her boyfriend got there and we were getting in the car, [the police] came and took us, and we were in the system as [prostitutes]," Wells explained. "Because they said, 'Oh, you guys were working, getting in the car this late.' So yeah, it was crazy."

Wells and Bryant both told their families about being wrongly cited as prostitutes. Wells consulted her policeman uncle for advice about challenging the report, but he said there wasn't much they could do.

"He was going to check and see, in a couple of years he's going to follow up," Wells said. "But as long as we never get caught for anything like that, we won't come up [in the system]."

Mandie Pewett, a 21-year-old artist from Chicago, made a picture of Rose that was featured at the gathering's art exhibition, and told ATTN: that the cause means a lot to her having endured sexism and double standards throughout life.

Mandie Pewett, artistNicole Charky

"I have two big brothers, so when they turned like, 15, my dad gave them condoms," Pewett told ATTN:. "I didn't get condoms. So it was definitely like a whole different thing growing up as a girl. And they told me all about the girls they dated. They talked about them in a way that [the women] were sleeping with so many guys, but I'm like, you slept with so many girls. It's almost like, OK for guys but it's not OK for girls."

Amber Rose SlutWalkLALaura Donovan/ATTN:

The first SlutWalk took place four years ago after a policeman received backlash for saying women should “avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.”

Here are some more compelling photos from SlutWalkLA:

Amber Rose SlutWalkLANicole Charky

Amber Rose SlutWalkLANicole Charky

Amber Rose at SlutWalkLANicole Charky

Amber Rose at SlutWalkLANicole Charky

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