The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury is participating in Denim Day today as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Denim Day was originally started by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove them, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans in solidarity with the victim.  Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual assault.

The Women's Center asked people to participate today in making a social statement by wearing jeans.  Officials say the activism provides an opportunity to start discussions about consent and what consent really is.

Western Connecticut State University and the Women's Center will talk about consent from 11am to 2pm in the Student Center on the university’s Midtown campus on White Street.