Social Work Club sponsoring Denim Day April 24

The Social Work Club is encouraging members of the Salve Regina community to raise awareness about sexual assault by wearing jeans or a teal ribbon during Denim Day, scheduled for Wednesday, April 24.

In observance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month each April, businesses, organizations and individuals nationwide are asked to wear denim to support sexual assault survivors and raise awareness about sexual assault misconceptions.

In 1998, a teenage girl in Italy was raped by her driving instructor. The man was convicted, but his case went to the Supreme Court of Appeals in Rome. The court overturned the conviction, arguing that because the girl wore very tight jeans she must have helped remove them, thereby giving consent to have sex. The case made international headlines, and the young woman’s jeans became a symbol of awareness that what someone wears is never an excuse for rape.

This year, the campaign is focusing on childhood sexual abuse and the importance of healthy childhood development. The campaign is also asking for everyone to begin talking about this crucial subject as a way of preventing sexual violence. It is never too late or too early to begin talking about the prevention of sexual assault.