Carlos Santander-Maturana hopes wearing high-heels will play a role in eliminating violence against women.
The Gay-Straight Alliance at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute organized a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event at the school on Friday, where male members of the school community walked around the school in high-heeled shoes.
Santander-Maturana, the staff supervisor for the group, said they wanted to have an event before the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which is Dec. 6. “We decided to do something that was a little fun, and did not trivialize violence against women,” Santander-Maturana said. “We want to send a message to the school community that we are taking this issue very seriously.”
A handful of students and teachers did their best to walk in the shoes and attracted a crowd of onlookers in the main hall of the school.
By raising awareness, Santander-Maturana is hopeful to educate a new generation to not partake in violence. “Violence against women will not be tolerated, and is very painful,” he said. “Hopefully some of the students are going to get interested in this issue and will be working towards a better future with no violence in the workplace, in the school or wherever they interact with other people.”
He said he was pleasantly surprised by the eagerness of the students to participate.
Santander-Maturana said Westgate will also be launching their White Ribbon campaign next week with help from the school’s student athletes to stand up against violence.
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