A hooded sweatshirt and jeans. A child’s footie leggings. A matching pink and black “girl boss” tank top and shorts. A Star Wars t-shirt. Boy’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles boxer shorts. Nothing seems significant about these clothing items-except they were the clothing worn by rape victims when they were assaulted.
A child’s onesie on display at KC-CASA’s “What Were You Wearing Exhibit.” A middle school girl’s athletic outfit and clothes from American Eagle reflect what victims were wearing when they were sexually assaulted.
In April KC-CASA’s “What Were You Wearing” art exhibit, featuring outfits similar to those worn by victims of sexual assault, was on display at the Feed in downtown Kankakee. These outfits, displayed on hangers against stark white walls, were shown next to the most common myths countered with facts about sexual assault. The powerful display sheds light on misconceptions about rape victims, including the commonly asked question, “What were you wearing?” that implies that victims of assault are somehow at fault for the crimes committed against them.
These casual outfits represent the real-life clothing rape victims were wearing in the KC-CASA exhibit. A hoodie and footie leggins are part of the KC-CASA exhibit “What Were You Wearing” that sets out to dismantle myths about sexual assault with local stories. Athletic clothing featured in the “What Were You Wearing” exhibit seeks to enlighten the public about the damaging myths about sexual assault.
