mar's Desk

marcoujor: The Dish on Denim Day

4/26/2017

In my work as a nursing instructor, blue jeans are understandably not part of the uniform.

As the saying goes, there is an exception to every rule, and that would be today, Wednesday, April 26th.

What is Denim Day?

“Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.”

How did it begin?

“The campaign was originally triggered by 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 her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent”

An 18-year old girl is picked up by her married 45-year old driving instructor for her very first lesson. He takes her to an isolated road, pulls her out of the car, wrestles her out of one leg of her jeans and forcefully rapes her. Threatened with death if she tells anyone, he makes her drive the car home. Later that night she tells her parents, and they help and support her to press charges. The perpetrator is arrested and prosecuted. He is convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.

He appeals the sentence. The case makes it all the way to the Italian Supreme Court. Within a matter of days the case against the driving instructor is overturned, dismissed, and the perpetrator released. In a statement by the Chief Judge, he argued, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

This might be one of the most outrageous lines of reason ever - my heart races and my urges are unspeakable in this forum.

Enraged by the verdict, within a matter of hours the women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work.

This call to action motivated and emboldened the California Senate and Assembly to do the same, which in turn spread to Patricia Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, and Denim Day in LA was born. The first Denim Day in LA was in April 1999, and has continued every year since.

As heinous as the Chief Judge’s initial ruling was, there remains an ongoing aftermath of solidarity, strength and support for women by women.

This year Denim Day occurs during April, which also happens to be Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

How will I show support?

I’ll be wearing my jeans to work today, Wednesday, April 26th - with my lab coat, of course!

I’ve also made a donation organized, by our University’s Counseling Services, to support Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, Inc. as they reach out to survivors of sexual assault.

There is a great website to check out: denimdayinfo.org

To be aware is doing something. To share is doing even more.

Please do something. Thanks.