Take
it
back
The Take Back the Night march
has great importance for many
Ann Arbor women. It is the only
night they can walk safely after
dark. It alerts the community that
women cannot walk alone without
fear of rape. The strong point of
the march lies in that the women
no longer feel alone in their fears.
It was a great night to be a
woman, to not feel alone. There
was a tremendous unity among
those marching.
On April 26, I went to the march
to fight alongside other women for
an important cause. But because I
I was also there to photograph the
event for the Daily, I was not only
a participant, but an onlooker as
well. This enabled me to see the
event from both perspectives,
women's and men's.
There is much controversy
surrounding the march, because
men have traditionally been ex-
cluded. Most of the men I encoun-
tered on the route were surprised
to see 1,200 chanting women mar-
ching through Ann Arbor. Very
few of these men showed any sen-
sitivity toward women's issues.
Most men watched from afar,,
through windows. Those who
viewed the march from the
sidewalks displayed hostile reac-
tions.
One young man in front of South
Quad sarcastically told me that he
was a rapist as he made an ob-
scene gesture with his tongue.
Everyone becomes a ham in front
of the camera, right? Another
women who was marching was
pushed and shoved by a man until
other women came to her aid.
These reactions may have
rntl r frnm man f -aln in
The Michigan Daily - Friday, May 16, 1986 - Page 5
timidated or alientated. Did the cannot accomplish very much by
march demonstrate that women taking power away. It only invites
are taking action against rape, or more violence.
was it accusatory toward all men? Perhaps an initial constructive
Whichever the case, there was no step would be to allow men to
good excuse for agressive march with women. If men saw
behavior that night, or any other other men marching, they would
night. probably show less hostility.
While many women feel that Maybe then we would see
men should be marching, others men becoming more involved
were vehemently opposed to any rather than standing on the
male participation. I've never felt sidelines.
better about being a woman and Women and men must break the
more separated from men than I separation that exists and become
did on April 26. This feeling, allies. Only then will our streets
however, made me uncomfor- become safe.
table. Women and men inhabit the
earth together. The power Photo story by
struggle between us must come to
an end WL have seen that we Andi Schreiber