https://wwyw.forestry.oregonstate.edu/history
The “What Were You Wearing?” Survivor Art Installation originated at the University of Arkansas in 2013. Created by Jen Brockman and Dr. Mary Wyandt-Hiebert, the project was inspired by Dr. Mary Simmerling’s poem,What I Was Wearing.
I choose this art project because I saw it on news a few years ago and when I read the assignment requirement this week, this project is the first one came to my mind. Due to slut shaming, the society put the responsibility on the victims more especially when it is a girl/women. You can hear something like “She dressed like that” “She asked for it”, but this project makes the fact clearly and direct. Those are what they were wearing, and some even carrying a gun-that still made her a victim.
Hi Yin,
I found this very inspiring because when it comes to rape victims, people always try to bring it back to the victim and say they were being “provoking.” No, they weren’t; they were themselves until one creep came and did as they pleased. No matter what you’re wearing, the rape still happens and it’s sad.
Hi Yin,
Thank you for sharing! This is a powerful activism project. It sends a very important message, as you said we often hear a victim was “asking for it” or in some way deserved to be assaulted because of what they were wearing. Instead of the person who assaulted someone for absolutely no defendable reason being blamed or punished. This project makes a strong statement disproving this horrible misconception. Women and victims are villainized a lot of the time when they speak up about being assaulted. Hopefully this project changed people’s perspective and made the see the reality that anyone can be assaulted and not because of what they were wearing.
Excellent! This type of work is so super powerful – I would love it if we could do projects like this at BMCC.
Yin,
This is very powerful! Thank you for sharing this. I love how direct the message is without having to say much or ask questions. I also appreciate that you posted more than one example as it made your entire post that much more impactful.
Hey, this is very touching and I agree with your statements people always blame women for getting raped. It’s disgusting how people point the finger at the victim instead of focusing on the attacker.
My favorite one so far! This was very powerful. Great job.