| He
walked a mile in her shoes, and boy, was he glad to
take them off
 |
STEP
LIVELY: Christopher Barron, left, in pink
heels, tries to keep his balance while walking
a mile. / Photo by Brianna Mortensen |
By Megan Sonderegger
April 13, 2006 | Christopher Barron, a Utah State
student, walked clumsily in pastel pink heels, his shoes
clicking heavily on the pavement with each painful step.
The cracked sidewalk caught him and he stumbled slightly,
regaining his balance with a labored grunt and a small
chuckle.
|
"I don't see why girls put themselves through
this pain," Barron said. "I look at
my regular shoes and think, 'What a beautiful
architectural design of comfort.'"
Barron, along with several other men, participated
in Wednesday's walk-a-mile-in-her-shoes campaign
as a show of support. The campaign focused on
increasing knowledge of sexual assault at Utah
State and was part of USU's Sexual Assault Awareness
Week. |
Photo by Brianna Mortensen |
As the walk continued, Barron veered of the concrete
path onto the grass, where he said his feet were able
to feel more comfortable. A friend rode by on his bike,
and Barron waved and responded to the "how are you?"
question by responding, "Not as good as you, you're
on a bike!
Barron said he wasn't given a choice as to what shoes
he wore. He said he was hadned a pair, and when he put
them on they felt too tight. He thought they didn't
fit, but then realized they were supposed to
be tight.
As the end neared, the clicking became heavier and
a silence among participants became evident.
"It has become a sober walk now," Barron said with
a laugh. "There is not much talking and laughing.
The pain has kind of become secondary. My only goal
now is to finish this."
Participants crossed the finish line with cheers of
support and encouraging music. Sighs of gratitude filled
the patio as men traded in their heels for tennis shoes
and sandals.
"This feels like an answer to my prayers!" Barron said.
Barron, along with other participants, said he felt
the walk was a good experience and it increased knowledge
of womanhood.
"That was a mile of soul searching, and I've come
to the realization that woman have unique qualities
that men will never have -- no matter how hard they
practice," Barron said.
WALKIN', TALKIN': Getting
into the spirit of the walk, men put some bounce in
their step and their dress. / Photos by Adam Thomas
MS
MS |
