Peace Over Violence established Denim Day 22 years ago in response to a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court that overturned a rape conviction based on the victim’s clothing. Because her jeans were tight, the justices felt that the victim must have helped her rapist remove them, thereby implying consent.
The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
Students and employees are asked to wear jeans on Wednesday, April 28, in support of survivors of abuse and as a visible means of protest against victim-blaming and other harmful misconceptions about sexual assault.
For more information about Denim Day, please contact the Title IX Office at titleix@edinboro.edu.
