“If you see something, say something.”
— Sgt. 1st Class Vance Young
By Staff Sgt. Felicia Jagdatt
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — In 1992, the tight jeans that an 18-year-old woman wore made her susceptible to sexual assault by her 45-year-old driving instructor; a verdict made by the Italian Supreme Court. The instructor was released. But the community of women protested by wearing jeans to work. Shortly after, Denim Day was established as the last Wednesday of April, annually. This year Denim day is April 28, 2021.
About two decades ago, Denim Day was created to hinder sexual harassment and assault by bringing awareness to the world’s past acceptance.
“I truly believe that anyone, including male or female, should have the freedom to wear whatever fits (comfortably) for them,” said Spc. Alaina Romeo-Llarena, human resources clerk, 4th Infantry Division. “The clothes we wear is not something to base on whether we will (be) sexually assaulted or not. It is each individual’s responsibility to be a good human being and do their part to think before they act.”
Now, for one day in April, people participate in Denim Day, which is a campaign to prevent sexual violence through education and public awareness.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing,” said Sgt. 1st Class Vance Young, lead sexual assault response coordinator (SARC), 4th Inf. Div. “(For example,) a female wearing tight pants or a male wearing a suit doesn’t constitute that they are giving consent to sexual activities.”
The division’s leadership recently brought Young onto the team as the SARC because his views align with the commanding general’s goals: “To ensure good order and discipline within the formations,” Young said. “One way is to teach bystander intervention.”
Young explained bystander intervention as “If you see something, say something.”
If a person is in formation, at a bar or a friend’s house, and they see something, they should use one of the bystander methods to stop it:
(1) directly intervene
(2) pull the victim out of the situation to ensure their safety
(3) ask a third party to intervene, if uncomfortable.
“When we find out that our brothers and sisters are being harmed, we shouldn’t stand for that,” Young added. “We should have the backs of those individuals, and we must stop this behavior in our formations.”
Young is located at building 1042 and encouraged others to visit whether to talk, view options or gather resources. The Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program exists so the Army can prevent sexual harassment and sexual assaults before they occur.
“We understand, as SHARP professionals, that each situation is unique to the individual,” Young said. “We know it’s not easy to come forward or trust someone you don’t know. However, if you want to talk to somebody and be informed, we are here and offer confidentiality. Let us at least explain your options to make the best decisions you can for yourself.”
Michael A. Grinston, sergeant major of the Army; James C. McConville, general, U.S. Army chief of staff; and John E. Whitley, acting secretary of the Army signed a Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Army letter to the community. The letter explained that People are the Army’s greatest strength and No. 1 priority. It also stated sexual assault and harassment are a form of deliberate fratricide, and the Army doesn’t tolerate fratricide. Soldiers will instinctively intervene to prevent fratricide, care for its victims and hold perpetrators accountable. That is why it is incumbent upon all leaders — whether they wear chevrons, stars or suits — to foster the same culture of intervention for sexual assault and sexual harassment. We must encourage cultures in which people care about one another and form cohesive teams in which each person feels a sense of belonging and is treated with dignity and respect, the letter said.
While people should consistently be aware every day, Denim Day takes the time to focus and bring mindfulness to the public.
Fort Carson’s 24/7 SHARP response hotline can be reached at 719-338-9654 and many other resources can be found at https://www.carson.army.mil/organizations/sharp.html.
Soldiers should check with leadership to see how their organization is participating in Denim Day.
Italy, 1990s,
In 1992, an 18-year-old girl is picked up by her 45-year-old driving instructor for her very first lesson. He takes her to an isolated road, pulls her out of the car and rapes her. Later
that night she tells her parents, and they help and support her to press charges. The perpetrator is arrested and prosecuted. He is convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.
The instructor appeals the sentence and the case makes it all the way to the Italian Supreme Court. Within a matter of days, the case against the driving instructor is overturned, dismissed, and the perpetrator released. In a statement by the chief judge, he argued, “because the victim wore very, very
tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”
Women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work. In April 1999, a social service agency in Los Angeles established the first Denim Day in the U.S. Denim Day was developed in response to this case and wearing jeans during this annual event has become an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes and myths surrounding sexual assault.
Courtesy of army.mil