Today is Denim Day. Today I wear denim to support all sexual assault survivors. 1 in 6 women have been sexually assaulted. I am one of those women. 4 years ago I was raped, and there is not a day that goes by that I do not think about it. I challenge you to wear denim today to support all survivors.
I strive to keep this platform as positive and upbeat as I can, but this is such an important topic that I care deeply about, I’m a strong advocate for, and that is very near and dear to my heart because I am a survivor.
It is hard to share your story sometimes – especially a story like this. There are always questions that go running through your brain that you think people might ask or even worst judge you for.
- What were you wearing?
- Are you exaggerating?
- Where’s your proof?
- Well were you drinking?
- Who was it? Did you know them?
- Did you report it?
It took me years to be able to talk about my story, but it is something that is a part of me and will be part of my story forever.
What is Denim Day?
Denim Day is a day to protest against sexual assault and violence. On this day wear jeans with a purpose. I know a lot of us, including me have been living in loungewear lately. The last thing I want to do is put on a pair of jeans to work from home. But I challenge you to dig to the back of your drawers and grab a pair of denim for the day.
Join the millions of people around the world who will be wearing jeans with a purpose, supporting survivors, and educating themselves and others about sexual assault and violence.
But why denim?
For over 20 years, an organization called, Peace Over Violence has run a campaign called Denim Day on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Denim Day came to be in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against ignorant and destructive attitudes about sexual harassment, abuse, assault and rape. Denim Day has become the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history.
There’s no excuse.
It does not matter what the victim is wearing, acting, etc. Unless there is verbal consent, there is no excuse.
This is a very hard topic for me to discuss at times. However, it is such an important topic to bring to life. This is a real issue we are having and I stand to do whatever I can to make it stop.
I don’t wish it upon anyone to go through what I went through. No woman, man, anyone should have to experience sexual assault. However, so many people do. Every 92 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.
I have become such a strong woman because of my past. Do I cringe at every rape joke I hear and every sexual assault scene in a movie or book? Yes.
So I challenge you to take a stand with me. Whether you have personally been affected by sexual assault or violence, if you know someone who has been affected, or just to stand for a topic that needs to be stopped.
Wear denim with purpose today.
Be sure to tag me in your posts and pictures on social media using #denimday2021 so I can share that we are all in this together to stop rape culture.
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