NUS Wears Denim
8 Aug 2022 | Events – Denim Day
Volunteers conducted engaging activities and distributed collaterals across NUS on Denim Day.
By: Siew Tung Dawn
It starts with you.
By choosing to click on NUS Care Unit’s article about Denim Day, you are already making a choice to find out more — so thank you!
Let me tell you about how it all began. Denim Day is internationally celebrated on the last Wednesday of April to commemorate Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The Denim Day movement originated from a court case in Italy where the authorities discredited a survivor’s report of sexual assault due to her wearing of tight denim jeans. Since then, wearing denim has become a symbol of support for survivors and advocacy against sexual violence.
Denim Day 2022 marks NUS Care Unit’s second consecutive year of running the education campaign on campus. This year’s motto “Join the movement. Be the change” reached out to almost 3000 students and staff! The redesigned badges and door hangers with resourceful information was a hit among the students on campus. This year, NUS Care Unit was joined by staff from NUS Health and Wellbeing, staff from Yale-NUS, and enthusiastic student volunteers, who were stationed across campus on Denim Day to raise awareness about sexual misconduct and the resources available to survivors.
Trivia games and conversations about consent were popular in our interactions with the NUS community. Most were highly positive and interested in knowing how to support peers who have or may have experienced sexual misconduct.
For some useful resources click here to find out more!
Indeed, recent high-profile cases in the media indicate that myths, misconceptions, and victim-blaming is still common in modern society. Let’s pause to consider: How often have we thought of or heard that our type of clothing might contribute to sexual assault? What about the role of alcohol and intoxication? From my own observation, these false beliefs show up not only in the general population, but also in survivors themselves too. Such beliefs can contribute to a cycle of violence – they can contribute to an environment where discrimination and harassment become common and increase barriers to seeking help and support in survivors.
What can we do to create a safer culture — both physically and emotionally?
Indeed, recent high-profile cases in the media indicate that myths, misconceptions, and victim-blaming is still common in modern society. Let’s pause to consider: How often have we thought of or heard that our type of clothing might contribute to sexual assault? What about the role of alcohol and intoxication? From my own observation, these false beliefs show up not only in the general population, but also in survivors themselves too. Such beliefs can contribute to a cycle of violence – they can contribute to an environment where discrimination and harassment become common and increase barriers to seeking help and support in survivors.
What can we do to create a safer culture — both physically and emotionally?
Simone came by to express her support for Denim Day.
Indeed, conversations — and the reflection and learning they prompt — can be a powerful catalyst. Through sincere dialogue and earnest self-examination, I fervently hope we as a society can take steps to improve public awareness which we so dearly need to fight sexual violence stigma. I hope this article is one such catalyst for you.
Genuinely listening to and believing survivors in a non-judgmental way is one simple action you can make. Before ending this article, I implore you to ask yourself: Can I be more respectful and kinder to someone today?
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual misconduct, please reach out to NCU for support by calling our helpline (+65 6601 4000) or emailing us at ncu_help@nus.edu.sg.