Wear Your Jeans for Justice

The campus will take part in Denim Day: Wear Jeans for Justice on April 24. The Denim Day campaign began in 1999 as a part of an international protest of an Italian High Court decision to overturn a rape conviction because the survivor was wearing jeans at the time of the assault. The judge said she must have helped the perpetrator remove her jeans and thus wasn’t “really” raped as this implied consent. This verdict has become a catalyst for sexual-violence-prevention efforts.

Staff and faculty are encouraged to show their support and commitment to ending sexual violence by wearing jeans on Denim Day and attending a coffee kick-off from 8 to 9:30 a.m. A special performance, “Blanketed by Blame,” will take place at 8:30 a.m. This event is an opportunity to connect with community resources and purchase Denim Day stickers to support the Valley Crisis Center.

If you participate, you are encouraged to talk about why you’re wearing jeans with your student or colleagues. Sample statement:

“I’m wearing jeans today in recognition of a campaign called Denim Day. In 1999 there was an Italian court case in which the judge threw out the rape conviction because the survivor was wearing jeans at the time of the assault. I’m wearing jeans today in support of survivors and to let people know that nobody ever asks for or deserves to be sexually assaulted. The judge said she must have helped the perpetrator remove her jeans and thus wasn’t “really” raped as this implied consent. My intention in talking about this is to increase awareness about this issue and to connect people to the available resources.”

Thank you for your support for Denim Day! For more information, contact Kari Mansager at 209-228-7939 or kmansager@ucmerced.edu.