Student Leads Denim Day Awareness Drive
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Warwick Academy student Geraldine Sidders encouraged fellow students to wear jeans with their school uniform as part of a campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault and to support survivors.
She organised the initiative to mark Denim Day last Wednesday [April 29], an international campaign held annually during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The movement began in Italy in the 1990s after a rape conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing tight jeans, prompting protests. Women in the Italian parliament later wore denim in solidarity.
Geraldine said she wanted to bring the campaign into her school to encourage more open discussion among students and staff.
“Almost every month of the year represents some form of awareness, but I believe this is one that deserves more attention and open conversation,” she told Bernews.
The 15-year-old, who hopes to compete in Wushu at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar later this year, said she was inspired after learning about the origins of Denim Day.
“I wanted to bring this idea into schools as a student-led movement, not to disrupt or make distractions, but to make a statement and encourage students, peers and teachers alike to ask questions and have conversations that they might have otherwise avoided,” she said.
Geraldine said several classmates joined the initiative while continuing to wear the rest of the school uniform.
“My friends, those brave and bold enough, joined me and still wore the rest of the proper uniform, so this wasn’t just a day for us to dress how we wanted – it was a day with meaning,” she said.
She said staff members, including head of year Mr [Daniel] Roberts, also took part in support of the campaign.
“The teachers were proud of me and the principal [Mr David Horan] was proud of our courage,” she said.
Geraldine said she is now in discussions with the school’s Diversity and Inclusion board about making the initiative an annual event.
Well done Miss Sidders! This is the first that I am hearing about this. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I really appreciate it and hope to participate next year at work.