In 1992, in a small town outside of Naples, Italy, a young woman accused her forty-five year old driving instructor of brutally raping her during a driving lesson. She told police that he drove her to an isolated area, forced her out of the car, wrestled her out of one leg of her jeans and raped her. He was convicted on lesser charges and then convicted on all charges by an appeals court in 1998. He was sentenced to 34 months in prison before the case made its way to the Italian high court. There, the sentence was overturned based on the justices’ belief that, because the victim wore tight jeans, they could not be removed easily, and therefore, she must have helped her rapist remove them. This implied consensual sex, not rape. Naturally, the decision outraged lawmakers and organizations throughout Italy, and all over the world. Women in the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans to work and immediately, the California Senate and Assembly followed suit by wearing jeans on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.
I was then and am now the Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit dedicated to ending sexual and domestic violence. I saw the power behind the protests and created the first Denim Day in Los Angeles in 1999. The campaign engaged individuals, politicians, organizations and businesses by encouraging everyone to wear jeans as a visible sign of protest against the misconceptions surrounding sexual violence. “Dollars for Denim” drives raised money for local rape crisis centers, and with each new year, the campaign spread even further. Today, what started out as a citywide protest has become a national day of education that is now spreading globally.
In 2012, over 5 million people participated in Denim Day in LA & USA. The impact of social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook has not only expanded awareness about the campaign, but has also allowed participants as far away as Afghanistan and South Korea to show their support for sexual assault victims. Yet, as large as the campaign grows, it is supremely evident that misconceptions about rape and sexual assault still exist. In a year that has been dominated with headlines touting outdated, misguided and often absurd claims regarding sexual assault, it is imperative that this year’s campaign be our largest Denim Day to date. To get involved, visit the Denim Day in LA & USA website to register and find ways that you can participate in your area.
Patricia Giggans has been the Executive Director of Peace Over Violence since 1985. As Peace Over Violence’s Executive Director, she is responsible for overall management, fundraising. policy and volunteer activities for this non-profit organization. She has been active in violence against women and violence prevention issues for more than 35 years and is considered a national expert on sexual, domestic violence, teen dating violence and prevention.
