LUKE O ’ BRIEN ( YEAR 12 )
In Italy , in 1992 , an 18-year-old woman was raped by her 45-yearold driving instructor . She reported the rape , the perpetrator was convicted , and it seemed that justice had been served .
Seven years later , while in prison , the perpetrator appealed the sentence . He claimed that the jeans she was wearing were so tight that he couldn ’ t have removed them alone . Essentially , he argued she must have helped him remove the jeans , meaning that she , somehow , had given consent . The Italian High Court overturned the case ; he was free to go .
The movement which inspired Denim Day began in the Italian parliament . Women wore jeans to work to protest the decision ; the protests spread , women around Italy enraged at what now became known as the ‘ jeans alibi ’.
Ever since 1999 , women and their allies worldwide have worn jeans to protest not only that verdict , but the myths and narratives that justify or normalise sexual assault . And Scotch will recognise Denim Day for the first time in its history on Wednesday 28 April . All Scotch students will be asked to wear denim jeans to recognise the ‘ jeans alibi ’, as well as all the other myths around sexual assault .
If you don ’ t own jeans , chinos will also be acceptable . It ’ s your choice whether you want to wear school clothes with the jeans or just casual clothes .
The 28th of April is more than just a day : it is a time to recognise how sexual violence has impacted women , and how we can help to put an end to it . So Wednesday is a time to consider the narratives about sexual assault that we commonly hear , to consider how we treat victims of sexual violence .
This won ’ t just be any other casual clothes day . We ’ ll be having discussions , at each year level , about how we think about sexual assault . Denim Day is a day to openly recognise that case in Italy , but it is also a day to recognise what we can do to stop the sexual violence impacting women daily .
BAILEY BALOT AND WILL HUCKER ( BOTH YEAR 11 )
As you are aware , today is casual clothes day – Denim Day . We stand here today to remind you of the significance of Denim Day for the Scotch College community ; to recognise and raise awareness for the victims of sexual violence . We wear denim to symbolise the ongoing injustices of sexual violence , and to make a stand both individually as boys and collectively as a school .
Denim Day is a campaign in honour of sexual assault awareness month . The campaign began in response to a horrific sexual assault of a young woman in Italy in 1992 .
We live in a society where even today there are men who still think it is acceptable to use physical and sexual violence against women . We stand here today as young men of Scotch , to reinforce that it has never been okay to use violence , it never has and will never be acceptable . Times are changing ; for the first time we are discussing this issue openly and honestly .
This is not a personal attack on of any of you as boys , but a call for change . We are here to remind you that treating women with respect is a must , but more importantly , to spread that it should be normal . It should be just what we do . The young Italian girl in 1992 who inspired Denim Day should have felt safe going for her first driving lesson , just the same way all the women in our lives should
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feel safe . Our mothers , our sisters , our teachers , our friends , should all feel safe living their lives .
In fact , we should all feel safe . Every single one of you here today should feel safe . We have to create a society where we don ’ t feel vulnerable , where we do not worry or fear for our safety ; a society where we all feel comfortable living our lives .
This idea of a cohesive safety is linked to our work in the Child and Family Immersion Service of Scotch College . We have partnered with charities that serve to provide support and protection for families all suffering various stages of domestic violence .
One important organisation which Child and Family Immersion is working with is You Matter , which is a local not-for-profit organisation , committed to assisting women and children fleeing from violent , abusive homes , and providing them with the basic household materials to begin a new home , a new life . These homes are called havens – a place where children and mothers can feel safe .
The immersion group has already started action to support this worthwhile organisation with an awareness campaign that highlights important statistics about domestic violence . Over the next two terms we will be asking for your support to help You Matter establish these safe havens . Today ’ s fundraising efforts will also contribute to our efforts to help purchase much-needed items for the havens created by You Matter .
As we stated earlier , everyone should feel safe in our community . We are part of a change in attitude and behaviour towards ensuring safety for women and children that is occurring in the community . We can no longer ignore the daily reports of women and children being victims of domestic violence . We can no longer ignore the statistics of those who are vulnerable in our society who are victims of sexual and physical assault . Boys – we can make a difference .
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