Students, faculty and staff at Elon University will join others across the nation in celebrating Denim Day on April 27 by wearing denim jeans in support for survivors of sexual assault and to stand together against victim blaming.
The Department of Health Promotion is leading this effort and will be providing buttons to anyone wishing to observe Denim Day. Employees who wish to participate by wearing denim should seek their supervisor’s approval.
For the past 17 years, Peace Over Violence has led international observances of Denim Day on a Wednesday in April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign was originally sparked by a 1999 Italian Supreme Court ruling, in which a rape conviction was overturned. The justification for the reversal suggested that a woman wearing tight jeans could not be raped, since they would be impossible to remove without the victim’s assistance. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament arrived at work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault. More information about the history of Denim Day and activities may be found at denimdayinfo.org. Visit the Department of Health Promotion website to learn about Elon University violence prevention initiatives and resources for supporting survivors.
Buttons are available at the Faculty/Staff Wellness Center or the Office of Student Health & Wellness in the Ellington Center, the Office of Human Resources, or the SPARKS office in the Moseley Center.