The Clothesline Project, a program aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence and sexual abuse, organized by Pierce College’s Campus Violence Response Team (CVRT), took over the Mall on Wednesday, April 23.
The project mimics a custom traditionally associated with women who would hang clothes to dry on a line while sharing stories of their experiences with one another.
The project has participants write a message or share their own experience on a t-shirt and hang it on the clothesline.
“We allow students, faculty or staff members to write their stories regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, child molestation and stalking,” said Holly Hagan, team leader for the CVRT.
Stephanie Miron, an 18-year-old nursing major, had seen this project on campus last fall and stopped by to read some of the stories.
“I think things like this happen and people are unprepared,” Miron said. “Nobody really likes to talk about it.”
Ezequiel Tremillo, 19, chose to write a message of support for those affected by sexual abuse.
“Sexual abuse is not right whatsoever. There’s no excuse,” Tremillo said, referring to the notion that a woman is responsible for abuse because of her clothing. “We judge women by what they wear but men aren’t judged by what we wear. Women wear tight shorts, or revealing shirts but you see men sagging showing their underwear.”
The CVRT was also handing out flyers for Denim Day on April 27.
Denim Day began in Italy after a Supreme Court ruled a rape victim’s jeans were so tight her rapist could not have removed them without her assistance, constituting consent.
Women in the Italian parliament, as well as members of the California Senate and Assembly, wore jeans as a protest.
More information about the project can be found at clotheslineproject.org.
