High heels in Greensburg help mark continued struggle against gender violence

Krystle Karas isn’t a fan of high heels.

“We are fans of comfort,” said Karas, 41, of Delmont, who along with more than 1,000 other men and women walked one mile Saturday morning in downtown Greensburg to send a message of support of victims of gender-based violence.

There was both comfort and discomfort along the route as Karas walked her mile sporting white sneakers, while others, including athletes from local college sports teams and community-minded participants, sported multicolored high heels as they made the round-trip jaunt from St. Clair Park.

“I think it’s great they are willing to step out of their comfort zone,” Karas said.

Westmoreland County’s Blackburn Center sponsored it’s 13th annual walk that Executive Director Renee Reitz said was designed to send the message that gender violence continues to be an issue that must be addressed.

According to statistics, more than half of women and almost one of every three men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes, Reitz said.

Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States; and in 2019 about 3.4 million Americans were victims of stalking.

Statistics reveal 81% of women and 43% of men experienced some form of sexual harassment. People with disabilities 12 and older are nearly four times as likely to be victims of violence than those without disabilities.

According to the Blackburn Center, one of every 10 Americans has experienced elder abuse.

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline received more than 51,000 reports in 2021.

“It still happens. Gender violence is still an issue, and we have to talk about this issue and its root cause. We need men as allies,” Reitz said. “People have to realize that jokes about sexual assault and rape are not funny. Inappropriate comments are not OK.

“There are so many issues just because someone is different.”

Officials said the act of walking in high heel shoes is a symbol of the difficulties and challenges that women face every day.

Adam Yoder, a junior member of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg men’s soccer team, joined more than a dozen of his teammates to make the mile-long trek down Maple Avenue in bright red high heels.

“It’s an uncomfortable issue, so we want to put ourselves in an uncomfortable environment,” Yoder said.

Balance was also a factor Saturday.

As men struggled to stay upright on their heels, participants also balanced the serious message behind the sight of men in heels.

“This is important because I think a lot of people affected by this don’t speak up,” said Shayla Shank, 25, of Greensburg. “Also, it’s hilarious to see men walk around in high heels and embrace their femininity.”