There is no excuse for sexual violence. On April 27th, help us create a community where sexual violence and victim blaming attitudes are not tolerated! Denim Day started in Italy in the 1900s:
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.”
Today, we wear denim and share this story to spread awareness. If we continue to tolerate sexual violence and victim blaming attitudes, then we will continue to live in a world of violence. Start with this small step.
