Denim Day 2023: On Denim Day, which occurs on the last Wednesday of April (April 26 this year), we stand in solidarity with survivors and victims of sexual assault. Denim Day, observed annually on the last Wednesday of April, began as a campaign against sexual assault apologists. In Italy, an 18-year-old girl was assaulted by her 45-year-old driving instructor during the summer of 1998.
The court overturned the perpetrator’s sentence a year later, resulting in his parole. He argued that he had ‘consensual’ intercourse with the girl because she was wearing tight jeans that could only have been removed with her assistance. The following day, Italian women wore denim to work as a form of protest against the absurdity of the overturned sentence.
HISTORY OF DENIM DAY
Denim Day was first observed in 1999, when an Italian court overturned the conviction of a convicted rapist after granting his appeal. Italian women showed up to work in denim jeans and other clothing items, sparking outrage and protests around the globe. The Californian Senate and Assembly also supported their fellow human beings, and as a sign of respect, American women wore denim when they entered the Parliament. Patricia Giggans, an American feminist and the former executive director of Los Angeles’ Commission on Assaults Against Women (now Peace Over Violence), was inspired by these occurrences and dubbed the last Wednesday of April Denim Day.
The 18-year-old girl who was assaulted in 1992 began her day normally when her driving instructor picked her up. However, the situation quickly deteriorated when he violated her. Before dropping her off at her residence, the rapist threatened to murder her if she told anyone. Later that day, she told her parents about the occurrence, and the rapist was shortly apprehended and prosecuted. However, he appealed his case a year later and was released after the court concurred with his claim that the victim’s tight jeans could not have been removed without her assistance.
Sexual violence is traumatic. Because it is difficult to discuss, sexual assault perpetrators frequently escape punishment. Moreover, survivors and victims are frequently held responsible for the incident. Such attitudes have also resulted in lenient laws that provide little assistance to survivors and victims. Thus, the purpose of Denim Day is to purge the world of such attitudes and laws in order to bring true justice and support to the deserving.
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HOW TO OBSERVE DENIM DAY
Wear denim
Denim is one of the best methods to commemorate this day. Denim jackets, shirts, hats, etc. are also acceptable alternatives to trousers.
Raise your voice
Raise your voice to support the victims and survivors. Do not remain mute for their sake and your own. Demonstrate to the perpetrators that you will do whatever it takes to halt them.
Spread knowledge
Share information in your social circles and on social media. Call out the contorted viewpoints of the apologists. While we have made great strides in the disciplines of science and technology, many of us still hold traditional views on sexual assault and other societal issues in the twenty-first century.
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Five facts about sexual assault that will astound you
One sexual assault per min
Every 73 seconds, one American is sexually assaulted, according to reports.
0.5% rate of conviction
Five of one thousand perpetrators are sentenced to prison.
80% of survivors experience mental/physical distress
Approximately four out of five survivors of sexual assault suffer from chronic physical and/or mental conditions.
Rape survivors are more despondent
Survivors of rape are thirteen times more likely to commit suicide than non-victims of crime.
College campus sexual violence
In college, 20% of women and 4% of males will experience sexual assault.
WHY DENIM DAY IS IMPORTANT
It is a celebration of perseverance.
Many goals can be accomplished through sheer determination. Numerous laws and acts in favour of survivors of sexual assault were only enacted due to their unwavering determination. If people had given up, orthodox laws would have remained in effect.
It’s a festival of unity
Both men and women of all ages and from all walks of life can be sexual assault victims. We must therefore express our support and solidarity with them. Coming together as a community will improve the future for future generations.
It is a celebration of women’s influence.
Denim Day would not exist today if it had not been for women supporting women in 1999. As a result of patriarchy, women can be each other’s greatest allies because they have shared experiences.
DENIM DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | April 27 | Wednesday |
| 2023 | April 26 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | April 24 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | April 30 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | April 29 | Wednesday |
