April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but since 1999, the
last Wednesday of the month has gained special importance. It is
known as Denim Day in response to a decision to overturn a rape
conviction by an Italian Supreme Court judge.
The case was overturned because the victim was wearing jeans;
the judge found this implied that the suspect could not have taken
the woman’s jeans off without her help.
Tina Oakland, director for the Center of Women and Men,
explained that what was not considered in that case was that often
the victim goes along with the act to protect herself from further
harm or violence.
Today, everyone, including those who do not usually wear jeans
in their work environments, are encouraged to wear denim as a way
to attract attention to the issue.
This act is designed to raise awareness by encouraging people to
pass the story along by word of mouth. The event also shows
participants’ frustration with the ruling of the 1999 case
and any other similar case.
“Denim Day is a wonderful opportunity for us to question
our own conceptions about what consent is and is not,” said
Oakland.
According to a written document passed out to judicial hearing
boards, “consent requires that the person initiating the
sexual activity get permission to do so, and silence and passivity
do not equal permission.”
After counseling numerous students who were victims of sexual
harassment, Oakland has a personal motivation for preventing these
kinds of violence from happening again.
In order to raise awareness throughout the UCLA community, there
will be a screening of the film “Tough Guise” at noon
today in Room 2, Dodd Hall.
The movie was directed by Jackson Katz, a filmmaker who deals
with issues of violence against women or men conducted by men. The
movie focuses on the negative aspects of hypermasculinized behavior
and will be followed by an interactive discussion led by
Oakland.
On Tuesday, the Undergraduate Students Association Council
passed a resolution recognizing Denim Day.
The Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women is another
sponsor of the event. The group is also behind the “Denim Day
in L.A.” rally that will take place today at noon at the
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Park.
The rally will celebrate the freedom women have to wear whatever
they choose. A survivor speak out will also take place to help make
the point that it is not choice of clothing that causes rape.
Survivors will be encouraged to state what they were wearing at
the time of the attack and will have additional time to make a
brief statement that addresses rape myths.
“We want to create more awareness, specifically, on this
specific day every year,” said Veronica Rivera, who works
with the commission.
For students who won’t be able to go the extra miles to
FIDM park, there will be a speak out at Meyerhoff park hosted by
the Clothesline Project.
Clothesline Project will have other programs during the week of
May 12-16, which is Women for Change week.