In 1997 in Italy, an 18 year old girl was raped by her 45 year old driving instructor, who was later convicted and sentenced to jail. The perpetrator appealed the sentence and his case made it all the way to the Italian Supreme Court where the case was overturned. The instructor was released and the Head Judge released a statement arguing that because she wore tight jeans, he assumed that she must have helped him remove her jeans and, therefore, consented. Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans on the steps of the Italian Parliament building. This was the beginning of what has become a worldwide event and movement to wear jeans as a visible means of protest against misconceptions that surround sexual assault.
