As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the University community will come together virtually on Wednesday, April 28, to participate in Denim Day—an international campaign to correct misconceptions around sexual violence and raise awareness against victim-blaming behaviors. Can wearing a pair of jeans really make a difference? Learn more about the history of Denim Day and how you can get involved.
Why Denim?
The nonprofit organization Peace Over Violence established Denim Day in 1999 in response to an Italian Supreme Court ruling on a rape conviction. The court overturned the conviction because the 18-year-old victim was wearing tight jeans and the justices concluded that she must have helped her assailant remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work in solidarity with the victim. As the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses, and students to make a social statement with their fashion by wearing jeans on this day as a visible sign of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence. Learn more at https://www.denimdayinfo.org/about.
How to get involved
The University of Miami’s Title IX Office participates in Denim Day to provide an opportunity to initiate meaningful conversations about how to debunk victim-blaming myths, and an opportunity to show support for the survivors.
Join the University community in support of sexual violence survivors by wearing your favorite denim and sharing your photos on Wednesday, April 28. Faculty, staff, and students can click here to submit photos and messages of support, or tag @lifeattheu on social media.
Additional resources
The University is committed to preventing sexual misconduct and supporting survivors in the instances when it does occur. To report misconduct or learn more about the support services and resources available at the University, visit www.miami.edu/titleix .
To learn about Denim Day visit: https://www.denimdayinfo.org/about.
