Spring Break
'Society's dirty laundry'
Clothesline Project promotes awareness of sexual violence
Grace Harper
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: News
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Clothesline is a project that started in Cape Cod in 1990 after the discovery that 51,000 women in America had been killed by men they trusted during the same time 58,000 men were killed fighting in Vietnam. At UConn, the same visual is created from shirts made by UConn community members.
This year, all the shirts are UConn originals. Though bittersweet knowledge, it shows a growing awareness in the UConn community toward violence against women.
"The idea [of the Clothesline Project] is awareness," said Kaitlin Newman, a 7th-semester political science and individualized peace studies major who recently got involved with VAWPP. "It's society's dirty laundry."
T-shirts serve as a symbolism for the women who walk around everyday with these stories, Newman said.
"'Little things', like a derogatory comment or objectifying poster, contribute to the 'continuum of violence,'" Newman said.
Each shirt's color represents a different aspect of sexual abuse and assault. Designs on white shirts represent a memorial for all women who've died due to sexual violence. Red, pink and orange shirts represent the stories of women who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Purple shirts showcase the stories of those discriminated against based on their sexual orientation. Blue and green shirts embody the survivors of sexual violence. Yellow shirts symbolize women who have been victims of dating violence or spousal abuse. Black shirts are open to any story.
Every detail of the Clothesline Project carries significance, by hanging the shirts shoulder to shoulder it shows a unity against this violence, Newman said.
One of the strongest messages of this project is for victims and allies to speak up.
A push for action is not directed entirely toward women but in fact, toward men as well. Lauren Millerd, a 7th-semester psychology and human development and family studies major, said that in our culture's views towards masculinity, men are made to feel like they should not get involved in "women's issues". This mentality however, is "part of the problem."
Newman agreed on the need for more involvement on the part of men, saying how men contribute to the continuum of violence and can instead work to stop this active contribution.
"Men don't want to see women suffer," Newman said. "I want men right there with me [fighting].
VAWPP strives to prevent dangerous situations rather than do risk reduction, as this implies that violence towards women is inevitable. There's this constant act of victim blaming according to Millerd. Our conscience doesn't allow us to look at who's really responsible.
"The fear shouldn't be there," Newman said. "Why do I have to be afraid?"
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