- Sponsor
- Women's Resources Center
Denim Day is an opportunity to show support for survivors of sexual violence and to eliminate victim blaming by wearing jeans as a visible sign of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.
In the 1990s, the Italian Supreme Court ruled that an 18-year old girl could not have been raped by her diving instructor because her jeans were “so tight” that she must have assisted the perpetrator in taking them off, therefore indicating consent. This became known as "the jeans alibi".
In support of the survivor, and in recognition of the flawed logic behind this ruling, female members of the Italian Parliament launched a protest wearing jeans on the steps of the Italian Supreme Court, gaining widespread media attention.
In reaction to this case and the movement that surrounded it, Denim Day was created as an international campaign.
Join the WRC in wearing your denim on Wednesday, April 29!