Denim Day: Let's Put an End to Rape Culture

TW: Sexual Violence, Assault

Tomorrow for Denim Day, we wear denim in solidarity with sexual violence survivors. The Denim Day story begins in 1992, when an 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor in Italy. He was convicted for rape but later appealed, and the case was taken on by the Italian Supreme Court. His conviction was ultimately overturned on the conjecture that became known as the “Jeans Alibi:” the victim was wearing very tight jeans and, therefore, the sex must have been consensual.

This case, although it happened in Italy in 1992, perfectly exemplifies the realities of rape culture in America today. A prevalent narrative throughout rape culture is that women are “asking for it.” This narrative puts the responsibility on the woman to cover up as “boys will be boys.” But it does nothing to solve the issue at hand. Instead, it perpetuates the sexualizing of young women (and even children) and breeds an environment of victim-blaming causing women to take on the burden of protecting themselves. From a young age, girls are told to cover up to protect themselves from the male gaze. School dress codes, for example, require young girls to not wear tank tops because it can be distracting to their male peers. This upholds the notion that girls are accountable for their peers’ wandering eyes, instead of actually preventing boys from getting distracted in the first place.

Rape culture inherently blames and doubts victims which, in turn, creates a culture in which sexual assault is common, victims are suppressed, and rapists walk free. Almost 1 in 5 women are raped and 1 in 4 men experience sexual violence at some point in their lifetime according to a survey by the CDC, and only 5 out of every 1000 rapists will end up in prison (RAINN).

Further, in a 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, conducted by the CDC, approximately 90 percent of perpetrators of sexual violence are men, regardless of the gender of the victim. This is so clearly a men's issue, so why is it seen as being a women’s issue?

In order to end rape culture we need to stop it from the root of the problem, but there is no be-all-end-all way to end rape culture. However, advocacy and education are important. We must recognize that rape culture derives from implicit biases and assumptions and a long-lasting structure that sexualizes women and trivializes the gravity of sexual violence. Rape cannot just be a women’s issue because that won’t stop it. So tomorrow everyone should wear denim to stand in solidarity and show support to anyone that has been sexually abused. Because this is an issue that everyone should get behind!

To find out more about Denim Day and sexual violence visit denimdayinfo.org