Mimicking the idea that “you don’t know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes,” was practiced as Sacramento State men took a walk in a pair of high heels to help better understand women’s experiences on April 13.

The Women’s Resource Center, who sponsored this event, decided to hold this event as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in order to educate Sac State men and the women about sexual violence, said Jessica Heskin, advocate and educator from the Women’s Resource Center.

“Sexual assault is a men’s issue along with a women’s issue,” Heskin said.

Heskin and other volunteers guided the men who participated around the Library Quad. Along the path the men walked were signs stating sexual violence statistics, which were placed by Women’s Resource Center members.

In their high heels, the men said the event was interesting. First-year student Edgar Camacho said they were there to show their support.

“Sexual assault is overlooked, and this will bring up the issue, and it will be good for the community,” Camacho said.

Junior Marlin Kirby helped organizing the event. A former volunteer with the domestic violence center, Casa De Esperanza, Kirby brought up the idea from when the Esperanza center organized yearly events for men to walk in high-heels.

This is the first year Sac State is holding the walk. Kirby said the center hopes it will become a yearly event.

The idea behind this event is to raise awareness of how sexual assault victims are accused of being at fault.

“The blame is being put on the victim,” Kirby said,” It’s not the victim we should be asking the questions-it’s the perpetrator.”

For more information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month, visit the Women’s Resource Center at www.csus.edu/wrc .

Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected]