April marks the 25th annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and HAVEN, Oakland County’s only comprehensive advocacy program for victims of domestic and sexual violence, is partnering with Bloomfield Township retailer Rear Ends to raise awareness and support survivors through the global Denim Day movement.
On April 29, Rear Ends will donate 20 percent of the profits from its denim sales to HAVEN in recognition of Denim Day, an international campaign that challenges harmful misconceptions about sexual assault and shows support for survivors.
Denim Day began in 1999 after an Italian court overturned a rape conviction, ruling that the victim’s tight jeans implied consent, because her jeans were so tight, she must have helped her assailant remove them. The decision sparked international outrage and led to the creation of Denim Day as a symbol of protest against victim blaming and misinformation about sexual violence.
Since then, individuals and organizations worldwide have worn denim to show solidarity with survivors and raise awareness.
“One in three female victims of complete or attempted rape experienced it for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17,” said Christine Kinal, CEO of HAVEN. “We must be vigilant in our outreach to ensure that everyone understands how to recognize the signs when someone crosses the line, especially our young people. Through prevention education and other programming, our vision is to eradicate sexual abuse and intimate partner violence and to help those affected heal.”
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center:
? Nationwide, 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. And this is only what’s been reported.
? The prevalence of false reporting for sexual assault crimes is low - between 2% and 10%.
? This is not just a female problem. Over half (52.4 percent) of male victims reported being raped by an acquaintance, and 25.1 percent by a stranger.
? Almost one in four undergraduate women experienced sexual assault or misconduct at 33 of the nation’s major universities.
? Federal funding provided by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is set to decrease by 40 percent in 2026.
? Only about one in three survivors of sexual assault ever report to law enforcement. Many victims note their fear of going to court and having a lawyer insinuate that it was “their fault.”
“We’re honored to help bring awareness to domestic violence and to participate in the worldwide Denim Day movement,” said Ariana Carps, owner of Rear Ends. “We encourage everyone to wear denim on April 29 and join us in supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse.”
A jeans store at its core, Rear Ends specializes in the best in women’s denim and casual wear. The shop is located at 6606 Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township in the Lincolnshire Crossings shopping plaza on the southwest corner of Telegraph and Maple, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More information is available at www.shoprearends.com.
On April 29, Rear Ends will donate 20 percent of the profits from its denim sales to HAVEN in recognition of Denim Day, an international campaign that challenges harmful misconceptions about sexual assault and shows support for survivors.
Denim Day began in 1999 after an Italian court overturned a rape conviction, ruling that the victim’s tight jeans implied consent, because her jeans were so tight, she must have helped her assailant remove them. The decision sparked international outrage and led to the creation of Denim Day as a symbol of protest against victim blaming and misinformation about sexual violence.
Since then, individuals and organizations worldwide have worn denim to show solidarity with survivors and raise awareness.
“One in three female victims of complete or attempted rape experienced it for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17,” said Christine Kinal, CEO of HAVEN. “We must be vigilant in our outreach to ensure that everyone understands how to recognize the signs when someone crosses the line, especially our young people. Through prevention education and other programming, our vision is to eradicate sexual abuse and intimate partner violence and to help those affected heal.”
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center:
? Nationwide, 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. And this is only what’s been reported.
? The prevalence of false reporting for sexual assault crimes is low - between 2% and 10%.
? This is not just a female problem. Over half (52.4 percent) of male victims reported being raped by an acquaintance, and 25.1 percent by a stranger.
? Almost one in four undergraduate women experienced sexual assault or misconduct at 33 of the nation’s major universities.
? Federal funding provided by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is set to decrease by 40 percent in 2026.
? Only about one in three survivors of sexual assault ever report to law enforcement. Many victims note their fear of going to court and having a lawyer insinuate that it was “their fault.”
“We’re honored to help bring awareness to domestic violence and to participate in the worldwide Denim Day movement,” said Ariana Carps, owner of Rear Ends. “We encourage everyone to wear denim on April 29 and join us in supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse.”
A jeans store at its core, Rear Ends specializes in the best in women’s denim and casual wear. The shop is located at 6606 Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township in the Lincolnshire Crossings shopping plaza on the southwest corner of Telegraph and Maple, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More information is available at www.shoprearends.com.
