On Denim Day, which takes place on the last Wednesday in April — April 24 this year — we stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors and victims. Celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of April, Denim Day started as a campaign against sexual assault apologists. In the summer of 1998 in Italy, an 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. One year later, the perpetrator was released after the court overturned his sentence. He appealed that the girl had had ‘consensual’ sex with him because she was wearing tight jeans that could have only been taken off with her help. The next day, Italian women showed up in jeans to their workplaces as a way to protest the absurdity of the overturned sentence.

HISTORY OF DENIM DAY

Denim Day was first celebrated in 1999 when an Italian court granted the appeal of a rapist and overturned his sentence. Sparking worldwide outrage and protests, Italian women showed up to work wearing denim jeans and other clothing articles. The Californian Senate and Assembly also supported their fellow human beings and, in a show of respect, American women stepped into the Parliament also sporting jeans. Patricia Giggans, who is an American feminist and the executive director of LA’s Commission on Assaults Against Women (now known as Peace Over Violence), was inspired by these events and named the last Wednesday of every April as Denim Day.

For the 18-year-old girl who was raped in 1992, it began as a normal day when she was picked up by her driving instructor. However, things soon took a turn for the worst when he raped her. Before she was dropped off at home, the rapist threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Later that day, she informed her parents of the incident and soon the rapist was arrested and prosecuted. Yet, a year later, he appealed his case and was granted freedom after the court agreed to his claim that the victim’s tight jeans couldn’t have been taken off without her help.

Sexual assault is traumatizing. It is difficult to discuss and, as a result of this, sexual assault perpetrators often walk away scot-free. Moreover, the survivors and victims are more often than not blamed for the incident. Such attitudes have also led to lax laws that do not help the survivors and the victims much. Denim Day, thus, aims to rid the world of such attitudes and laws to bring about real justice and support to the ones who deserve it.

HOW TO OBSERVE DENIM DAY

1.   Wear denim

One of the best ways to observe this day is by wearing denim. It doesn’t have to be jeans as you can wear denim jackets, shirts, hats, etc.

2.   Raise your voice

Raise your voice in support of the survivors and victims. Do not stay silent for them and yourself. Show the perpetrators that you stand against them and will do anything to stop them.

3.   Spread awareness

Spread awareness in your circles and on social media. Call out the apologists for their twisted viewpoints. It’s the 21st century and, while we may have progressed tremendously in the fields of science and technology, many of us still have orthodox views on sexual assault and other societal issues.

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