ORANJESTAD – Dutch advocate Karin Bosman, founder of About Workplace Harassment (AWH), took a bold stand against sexual harassment by walking 313 miles—from Trump Towers to the White House—in an effort to raise awareness and spark dialogue, especially in the field of education.
Visiting top universities like Princeton, Penn, Baltimore, and Howard, Bosman aimed to engage students on this sensitive topic. Many, she found, were reluctant to speak openly—highlighting a deep lack of trust in the systems meant to protect them.
“Almost all students said the same thing,” Bosman explains. “They don’t feel supported by those tasked with enforcing policies. Victims are often met with questions like, ‘Do you realize you’re ruining someone’s future?’—which shifts the focus away from the victim’s experience.”
While students are introduced to Title IX policies at the start of their studies, Bosman found that many don’t feel this is sufficient. Students overwhelmingly expressed a need for more education on resilience, prevention, and especially the gray areas around personal boundaries.
🧦 Same Socks, Same Struggle
Her journey, dubbed Walk2Talk, was personal and symbolic. Walking nearly 24 miles a day with a minimal backpack, Bosman endured fatigue, cold weather, and even unwanted interactions—one man, during a video message, unexpectedly kissed her on the cheek. Though she believed he meant no harm, it was a reminder of how even minor, uninvited physical contact can feel violating.
“I was walking on the same socks for days,” she recalls, “but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I met incredible people who offered me their numbers, food, and encouragement.”
📚 From the Road to Denim Day
Bosman’s advocacy was further recognized when she was approached by Denim Day New York (DDNY) and invited to be part of their upcoming coffee table book—a project by Peace Over Violence (POV) that features survivors and their empowering messages. She will be attending the official Denim Day Rally in NYC on April 25, marking her next step in spreading awareness and hope.
Organizations like EROC (End Rape on Campus) welcomed Bosman at the White House finish line, where emotion ran high. “I missed my family, walked through cold days, and even spent my birthday alone on the road,” she said. “But every step was worth it.”
Bosman’s journey is a powerful reminder that more must be done to support victims, witnesses, and bystanders of sexual harassment—not just in the workplace, but in schools, universities, and communities everywhere.
Photo credits : https://www.arubatoday.com/awareness-walk-sexual-harassment-students-feel-lack-trust-speak/
