The term “walk of shame” deserves to die a slow and gruesome death, preferably one involving fire. The term perpetuates the notion that, for some reason, women should be the only ones subjected to ridicule when they have a one-night stand and come home wearing their clothes from the night before. (As if men have never done this.)
The entire concept is steeped in sexism — and what’s more, men seem to have an almost perverse fascination with the concept, as evidenced by a recent Facebook page.
The Maga Walk of Shame Official Fan Page (not to be confused with MAGA-related content, although I’m sure the page has garnered more than a few Trump supporters) endeavors to chronicle women returning home from hookups and all-night parties in Magaluf, the resort town on the Spanish island of Majorca. The page already has an alarming 8,500 members.
In the photos, the women (whose faces are blurred out) frequently cover their faces and cleavage as they attempt to walk home unencumbered by the creepy guys stalking them and degrading them on the streets.
David King, the proud founder of the page, is reveling in the controversy and coverage that his page has generated. His personal Facebook page features photographs of him DJing, so perhaps he’s just impervious to embarrassment.
DailyMail reported on the page by repeatedly mentioning that the women were wearing “skimpy” outfits — as though summer at a Spanish resort weren’t reasonable justification for showing some skin. But, that’s what this whole project seems to hinge on: slut-shaming female strangers and casting aspersions on their “lifestyle” with little regard for their humanity.
In one video clip posted on the page, a woman walking down the street is actually followed by a random guy who films her and can be heard telling her to go “get a shower.”
Someone commented on the clip, saying “Bit weird this. I get the feeling that whoever films these is jealous cus they aren’t ‘getting any.’”
A woman named Gio Haig, whose boyfriend apparently filmed the video, responded by saying, “Well he’s my partner. I agree he’s a Spanish wanker but trust me he gets it.” (In the context, one can only assume that “it” means “sex.”) She later added, “But I agree he’s a dick and should have left this girl alone. I’ve had my word with him – won’t happen again.”
While the blame for this heinous trend is placed squarely on the men taking the photos and videos, one can’t help but wonder if the guys participating in the “Maga Walk of Shame” page would be quite so gleeful about their pet project if the women in their lives actually broke up with them for being “wankers.”
I mean, if your boyfriend is following random women around and harassing them, that should be a pretty reliable indicator that he doesn’t particularly like or empathize with women — and you could probably do better.
As for the men who seem to believe that a woman coming home from a party of a one-night stand is fair game for ridicule, I sincerely hope that someone follows you around with a camera every time you have a regrettable sexual encounter or stay out all night drinking.