Residents of Marshalltown might see an unusual sight on Saturday — a group of men walking together in heels.

They will be participating in the annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event, a march against sexualized violence which consists of men strapping on women’s shoes and strolling the one-mile route.

This is the first time the event will be held in-person since the 2018 tornado. The location is also new this year — in front of the Echo sculpture on the 13th Street District.

Event organizer D.L. Dean is excited for the return and new location, and will be wearing a pair of heels once again for the one-mile stroll. He recommends participants wear at least two-inch heels. Women are also urged to participate, and Dean said they do not have to subject their feet to heels.

“One – women don’t like to walk in heels,” he said. “This is our way of saying we support and understand something that is uncomfortable. We will try, and it is also something that is odd.”

From the front of the Echo sculpture, participants will head west on Summit Street to the west entrance of the Iowa Veterans Home. They will then complete a loop around to the other side of Summit.

“To be able to take it on the Vets Home and have them be a part, that is something very important to them,” he said. “I can tell you it is a workout and it is a calf builder.”

Dean added that the event was previously held in front of the Marshall County Courthouse.

“That’s why we haven’t had it, because of the damage, so this is the location,” he said.

Since the tornado, Dean said virtual aspects were hosted, but nothing like what is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday. Previous years drew anywhere from 50 to 60 walkers. Dean, who is a deputy with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, said he is not sure how many will turn up on the morning of the event.

The event is used to raise awareness of sexualized violence and money for ACCESS — Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support.

“The funds will be used to benefit ACCESS to be used for counseling for juveniles,” Dean said. “The purpose of this is for juveniles who have experienced sexualized violence, that is one of the biggest things they don’t get the counseling that is needed. Generally in our underrepresented families, this is a phenomenon that is generally kept in-house. These kids have no venue.”

It is because of the lack of counseling resources that Dean said those juveniles tend to have a bad relationship with men, and poor outlooks on men.

“It’s generally something that has occurred earlier in their lifetime,” he said. “This is an area we see counseling is not there, so that’s why we want to talk about it. Now, [ACCESS] can use it for whatever is necessary under their umbrella, but this is what this event is geared toward.”

How common sexualized violence is in Marshall County is not precisely known to Dean because of the tendency to “sweep it under the rug.”

“I could almost say it hits every family in some form or fashion,” he said.

Dean said sexualized violence also extends beyond rape or molestations. Children who are aware of such violence are victims as well. He said they might hear their mother being assaulted through the wall.

“You can’t really give a number, and those who are talked to brush it off,” Dean said. “That’s why I say this event is necessary, because we tend to only look at certain things. This is domestic abuse. This is sexual assault. What are the characteristics permeating through the family structure? That’s why we need to talk about it.”

Dean said event participants can also walk to raise awareness of other issues, such as domestic violence, but the event is primarily geared for sexualized violence and raising funds for juvenile counseling.

“Come out and participate,” he said. “The message is sexualized violence is happening throughout our community. To recognize it and be a part of something like this is to say how we can affect it.”

Dean added the hosts of the event are the FARST Foundation, the Family First Foundation, the Full Tilt Riders Motorcycle Club – Central Iowa Chapter and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Eta Rho Sigma chapter.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes is a nationwide event which began in 2001. Men walking in heels have raised money for rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

Where: Echo sculpture, North 13th Street

When: Registration begins at 10 a.m., Saturday; communications begin at 11:30 a.m.; the walk starts at noon

Website: www.walkamileinhershoes.org

NATIONAL SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE STATISTICS:

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) website states:

• An American citizen becomes a victim of sexual assault every 68 seconds;

One out of every six women have been raped or been the victim of an attempted rape;

• Nine out of 10 rape victims are female;

• 55 percent of sexual assaults occur at or near home;

• 48 percent of the victims were sleeping or doing another activity at home;

• 54 percent of victims are between the ages of 18 and 34

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.