There is never an invitation or an excuse for rape.
WISE staff, board, mentors, and program participants wore their denim in honor of #DenimDay, April 28th, 2021. Denim Day honors survivors of sexual assault and aims to bring awareness to sexual violence.
Why we wear denim
In 1998, the Italian supreme court overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing jeans. The “logic” was that the victim’s jeans were too tight to be removed on by the perpetrator alone, therefore, the victim must have helped the perpetrator remove her jeans, implying consent. This led to widespread outrage across the nation and the globe.
On April 28th, we wear denim to signify that women should be able to wear whatever they feel comfortable without being harassed and assaulted by others. The harassment of women based on their appearance continues to today and what women wear continues to be perceived as invitations for assault. It is ridiculous that something as simple as a pair of jeans would be used to justify violence against women. This logic used in the above case is rooted in misogyny and patriarchy.
Beyond Denim Day, WISE continues to advocate for prevention and intervention work so that our communities and our women/girls can live in a world free from violence.
Learn about Denim Day at DenimDayInfo.org