Yesterday, the University of Otago student group Thursdays in Black, aimed at preventing and responding to sexual violence in tertiary spaces, held an exhibition showcasing the clothing worn by Dunedin rape and sexual assault victims when they were attacked.
The exhibition featured submissions from a range of ages and from all genders, from preschooler clothes, onesies and school uniforms, to pyjamas, hoodies, rain jacket and thermals.
Thursdays in Black co-director Ella Sangster said the exhibition was about dispelling rape myths surrounding sexual violence, especially around the "perfect victim".
"Anyone can be a survivor of sexual violence ... we’re hoping by displaying these real stories we can help to break ideas of what a victim should look like down."
The Ministry of Justice recently estimated more than one in five adults in New Zealand experienced sexual assault in their lifetime, with Māori and other minorities disproportionately represented in the figures.
"We want to raise awareness and advocate against sexual violence in our community, and break those harmful stereotypes that can be prevalent in the community."
A University of Otago study in 2020 found disclosure rates within the university community were low.
The study found 28% of students at the university experienced some form of sexual assault and out of 431 students surveyed, 178 had told no-one, 179 had only one supporter, and 74 had told two or more people.
"This speaks to the need in or community to open conversations about sexual harm, and is one of our motivations for holding the ‘What I was Wearing’ exhibition," Ms Sangster said.
"We acknowledge that it can be common for survivors’ clothing to be weaponised against them, undermining their experiences.
We aim to show experiences of sexual harm are not about what you are wearing and what you are wearing is never to blame."
