Walk in Heels Event Saw Men Stand Tall Against GBV

Photo Credit: Supplied

Men united in Durbanville in heels to stand against gender-based violence in an act of solidarity and fundraising.

Durbanville, South Africa (12 March 2025) — On Saturday, the world observed International Women’s Day. For some, it was a time to celebrate women. For others (especially women ourselves), it was a time to reflect on how much change still needs to be made until our world is anything close to equal. For the Durbanville Lions Club, it was a time to unite men to do better and stand together (heels and all) for women.

The non-profit hosted its first Walk in Heels for Gender-Based Violence Awareness as a way to raise funds for GBV prevention and support services. At the De Ville Centre, men donned heels and learnt more about the fight against gender-based violence, connecting through allyship, understanding and likely some blisters.

Heels were chosen as the symbol for the event as a means to promote understanding. The Durbanville Lions Club explains that this allowed participants to ‘walk in the shoes’ of those affected by GBV in a bid to foster empathy.

After all, if men can’t empathise with something as simple as wearing heels, how could they possibly understand the reality and fears women go through when it comes to GBV?

“Including men in gender-based violence education is essential in creating a society where safety, respect, and equality are the norm,” shared the Durbanville Lions Club.

“Men play a crucial role as allies, advocates, and change-makers in challenging harmful norms, fostering empathy, and promoting accountability. By engaging men in these conversations and initiatives, we not only broaden awareness but also encourage active participation in prevention efforts. True progress in ending gender-based violence requires collective responsibility, and only through inclusive education and collaboration can we build a future free from violence and discrimination.”

In addition to the walk, vital information, referrals, and pamphlets were distributed, providing resources on different forms of abuse and where to seek help. Several women received direct referrals for assistance on the day.

The funds raised are set to be donated to Olympians Social Development and Education, an organisation assisting in raising awareness about gender-based violence in Fisantekraal and surrounding areas.

Here’s what some of the participants took away from the day:

“The event of Saturday has put “walking in someone else’s shoes” in a different perspective for me,” shares Emile Plaatjies.

“As a man we take the roles that woman plays for granted. As the woman are the back bone of our society, we need to be more appreciative of them and hold the perpetrators of GBV accountable for their actions. There are no justifications for any abuse that is directed towards our woman. Our society (man in general) needs to look inwards as to what more we can do to stop this.These events should be a regular occurrence so that the strive of our women does not get forgotten.”

“My experience on Saturday was very fantastic, even though I was a bit shy at first,” says Bronwin Peterson. “The welcoming and vibrant energy that everyone brought with completely eliminated any shyness I had. It was so nice I did it twice. The cause of the event made me want to strut in high heels in front of complete strangers in a shopping centre, being that GBV is a very pressing issue in our communities.”

The event was supported by several groups, including the Durbanville Victim Empowerment Programme, Durbanville Community Policing Forum, Durbanville SAPS, and the Breath Foundation.