Wear Jeans with a Purpose on Denim Day

(This was submitted by Jay Genova of Scarsdale Family Counseling Service.) The Scarsdale Safe Coalition: Children, Teens and Families is again encouraging community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make an annual social statement with their fashion by wearing denim on April 27th. Denim Day is a as a visible means of raising awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault and protesting the misconceptions that surround sexual violence. Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service has already signed on to the campaign and encourages others to do the same.

Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault and stems from an infamous ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim in the case was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The organization Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case.

Everyone has a role in preventing sexual violence in our community. Changing beliefs which contribute to sexual assault begins first with believing survivors of sexual violence when they share their stories, but also by challenging cultural misconceptions and stereotypes. Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Our actions, big and small, have a ripple effect on those we teach, guide, and influence.

Please consider “Wearing Jeans with a Purpose” on April 27th and encourage others to do the same. To learn more about Denim Day or other Safe Coalition initiatives, please contact Jay Genova, LCSW at Jgenova@sfcsinc.org.