What is Walk a Mile in Her Shoes?

Since 2001, men, women, and their families around the world have joined the award-winning Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® events in their community. It’s a powerful opportunity to raise awareness in our community about domestic violence. Men are encouraged (but not required) to walk in women’s high-heeled shoes to confront gender stereotypes head-on, while the playfulness of the event opens up space to talk about the roots of domestic violence without the defensiveness that often shuts those conversations down.

Chester County’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event began in Phoenixville in 2023, started by the Phoenixville Area High School Walk a Mile team, led by student volunteer Vivona Xu with Emerson Cairns and Brynn Klotzbach.

This year, the event is expanding countywide, in partnership with the Chester County Commissioners and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office - AND with support from more student volunteers from the Phoenixville Area High School Walk a Mile Team, Henderson High School FEMPowerment Club, Kennett High School SADD Club, Downingtown East High School NOW Club, and students from Downingtown STEM Academy, and more!

Why Men in High-Heeled Shoes?

There’s an old saying: you can’t understand someone else’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® takes that literally – men walk just one mile in women's high heels, a visible, public stand against domestic and sexual violence. It’s not a comfortable walk, and that’s the point: the discomfort opens the door to real education, self-reflection, and change.

But, men experience domestic and sexual violence too - and far too often, they suffer in silence. The expectations placed on men to "toughen" or "man up," that "boys don't cry," they take control and never look weak – is what keeps men experiencing domestic and sexual violence from speaking up. A man proudly walking in heels is stepping outside of those expectations - he's standing with women, and at the same time, chipping away at the very idea that keeps men from asking for help when they need it.

How Can You Get Involved?

Show up and walk the mile in heels with us – or in sneakers! What matters most is that you show up and walk the mile with us! You can also donate to the event or become one of our sponsors, and help spread the word by sharing it with others. There will be awards for fastest mile, highest heel, best costume, and more!

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes - Chester County

Can you walk the mile? Join us as we stand against gender-based violence!