Alumni Join Students to Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

Millbrook students turned out Sunday to “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” to raise awareness about sexualized violence towards women. The event, founded on the idea that empathy and understanding can grow only by “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes,” requires men to actually walk a mile while wearing high-heeled shoes. The awkwardness and discomfort highlight the inequities women face in a patriarchal society. Before setting off on their walk, men take a pledge to oppose all sexualized violence and to be more aware and self-aware of its pervasiveness.

 

Emma Schaad ’21 organized Millbrook’s event after participating in many walks in connection with a foundation, Give Way to Freedom, started by her mother. Emma enlisted two married Millbrook alumni, Melissa (Massarone) Hardisty ’06 and her husband, Ross Hardisty ’05, who had met Emma's mom at a similar event. Melissa and Ross learned of Millbrook's event and volunteered to return to campus to walk the walk with current students. Following a sign-making get together on Saturday night, participants gathered Sunday morning on Pulling Circle to take their walk around campus brandishing signs and with some male students showing empathy and solidarity by wearing women’s shoes.

 

The event raised several hundred dollars for One Love and for Family Services, a resource center supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.