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What Were You Wearing?
Survivor Art Gallery
When survivors of sexual violence disclose their stories, they are often asked, “What were you wearing?” — as if their clothing determines consent.
The What Were You Wearing? exhibit fights back against rape myths by displaying clothing survivors wore when assaulted, showing that clothing does not equate to consent.
Originated at the University of Arkansas in 2013 by Jen Brockman and Dr. Mary Wyandt-Hiebert, inspired by Dr. Mary Simmerling’s poem, What I Was Wearing.
Submission Data
Submissions by Age
- 0-4
- 5-8
- 9-12
- 13-17
- 18-24
- 25-44
- 45+
- Unknown
92% of victims identified as Female
5% identified as Male
5% identified as other
1% did not disclose
Victimization Frequency
Content warning: The exhibit contains descriptions of sexual and gender-based violence.
Please view with discretion and call 860-482-7133 if you need support.
“I was wearing one of those white little girl shirts with the shoulder cut off and a unicorn on the front. I had on short pale blue jean shorts and purple Converse.”
7-year-old Girl
"It was on Thanksgiving at my great grandparents' house, by my uncle. He didn’t listen to “No.” He did it in front of everyone. Anyone I locked eyes with looked away. When I spoke out 5 years later to his mother, I got hit."
“Just baggy jeans and a baggy shirt with some guitar company “Fender” is what it said, with black high-top converse.”
12-year-old Girl
"A female classmate assaulted me in the restroom during break. She forced herself on me and forced me to make out with her and take my shirt off."
“I was wearing my work boots, Romeo’s, with some jeans, a Twenty One Pilots shirt, and a yellow and brown flannel. On the other accounts it was all the same except a green shirt for work.”
14-year-old Boy
"I met her at work, and we had known each other for a few months. She caused me to relapse and had convinced me numerous times that things we did were normal. I didn't know better. The worst was that night. I had gotten really extremely high and it was me, her, 2 friends, and my sister. We went on a walk to the local park where me and her went into the bathroom to smoke some more. That's when it happened."
“When I was 20, I was wearing black sweatpants a pink sports tank top.”
Woman from ages 5-20
"I had been assaulted multiple times once at 5 then throughout my teenage years. I was assaulted multiple times and trafficked however when I was 20, I was raped by my ex-husband. He said it doesn’t matter anyway because he was my husband and could do what he wanted even when I begged him to stop. The youngest I ever was assaulted was at 5 years old. I was in foster care and was wearing a simple dress."
“I was wearing my favorite set of navy-blue scrubs and white tennis shoes.”
28-year-old Man
"I got lost looking for my friend's new apartment and a man noticed and asked if he could help. I was 28."
“(1) Lion King Panties from 1994 and a white-ish dressing sleep gown. (2) A grey t-shirt & blue basketball shorts (2003 school gym uniform). (3) A blue polo & khaki pants. (4) A plaid shirt & jeans covered in manure. (5) Sweats.”
Girl at ages 3, 12, 15, 18 and 23
"(1) I was 3 walking into my dad's bedroom. (2) I was in middle school, hiding out in Wood Shop avoiding gym. (3) I was getting home from band practice. (4) I was working on the college campus Cow Stables with then boyfriend. (5) I was sleeping next to a platonic bed friend."
“A Hello Kitty strawberry milk shirt I got from Hot Topic and pink fluffy pajama pants. I loved that shirt. I threw it away after the incident.”
15-year-old Non-binary Male
"He was my 'friend' I invited over for a sleepover. He wanted to watch a musical while I didn't. He got mad over me having the remote and decided to get on top of me. I wish I screamed "get off me" louder. Maybe then my parents could've saved me. Maybe then I would still have my favorite shirt."
“Shorts and a t-shirt”
9-year-old Girl
"A family member put his hands up my shirt to feel my breasts, which were just starting to develop. He then pulled himself out and acted like it was normal. He then proceeds to go down my shorts and feel me. Police said it looked more like an accident than an assault. I've had several assaults most while just existing."
“Baggy jeans and a hairstylist baggy t-shirt. Mascara and a small amount of blush for a bit of color.”
39-year-old Woman
"I'm a hairdresser. I was finishing up a client I have had for several appointments. He's usually really easy going and fun to talk to. During the service everything was normal. Talked about my husband and my son so he's well aware I'm married. My number is my business number also and later that evening he decided to reach out. I didn't think much of it as I told him my husband would be happy to meet up for coffee if he'd like (he was new to town). Instead of carrying on a normal conversion I all of a sudden get a nude. Full frontal mirror shot. I instantly delete it and ask wtf? He said "thought you'd like that" the proceeded to tell me he wanted me to squat over his face and pee in his mouth so he could drink my nectar. I knew this man for a total of about an hour with his previous appointment."
“I was 12, wearing a pink-collar t-shirt with purple shorts. My hair was in a ponytail, and I had twinkle toe shoes on.”
12-year-old Girl
"I was in theatre class; I was partnered with a boy who would bully me. One day he started touching my thighs, butt, everywhere. He tried to get me to touch his private area. I was too scared to tell him no. This happened for two days in a row. I reported him to the teacher, they did nothing."
“It was almost always late while my mother was at work. From what I remember I wore black pajama pants with pandas on them and always some form of back tank top or my Harry Potter sweater.”
9-year-old Intersex Girl
"I was nine when it started. The first time we were in the living room. I was sitting next to my dad, and he was tickling me and just started tickling my groin. I remember asking why because why would I be ticklish there? Then he went under my pants, and it's like the world went black. I couldn't move. I used to laugh at people when they told me that people it happened to couldn't move. I remember him asking what was wrong, and I just looked at him. He was my dad, how could he? Almost every time after my father would ask me over for a 'good night hug' and grind up to me and touch my chest and groin. It happened 7 times and no one in my family ever believed me."
“I can’t remember specifics for most of them, but I usually had on some sort of plaid pajama pants and a cotton sports team t-shirt. Both adult and children’s sizes.”
Girl at ages 8, 17, and 19
"The person (whom which I was dating at the time) got me addicted to substances. They took advantage of me when I could hardly move or talk, or even when I said I didn’t want to do anything. There are some that I cannot remember, and I don’t know how many times it happened. I also was assaulted by a family member for 3 years almost nightly. I was 8."
“I was wearing a black pullover short sleeve shirt, jeans and cowgirl boots.”
21-year-old Woman
"I was 21 and went to a local bar with coworkers for happy hour. I was ready to leave but the friends I rode with weren't. A man I worked next to for 3 years offered me a ride home. He said he wanted to make sure I got inside my house safely. The moment I unlocked the door he slammed me to the floor and assaulted me."
“It was my working outfit. A red polo t-shirt, black skinny jeans and black Vans.”
13-year-old Girl
"After my shift, I went to calm my nerves upstairs in my workplace. There were two of my co-workers. Another one of them just watched "The show". It happened 15 years ago, nobody knows."
“The one I remember- I was wearing Union Bay light denim shortalls that were rolled up to mid-thigh. Underneath I was wearing a baggy long sleeve white Lands’ End t-shirt. My shoes were black Vans sneakers.”
15-year-old Girl
"He was my first boyfriend. I was 15 when it started, he was 18. I thought it was love."
“First time I was wearing a Buzz Lightyear onesie. Second time I was wearing all white pajama pants and a tank top.”
7-year-old Boy
“I was wearing a black abaya with buttons and a black hijab on my head”
11-year-old Girl
“When I was SA’d, I was wearing my school uniform. It happened weekly, if not daily and he would not stop. Mind you this was at school.”
14-year-old Girl
"I was at school when this happened. I was in my school uniform, and it happened every day. I did not know what to do about it. He was my boyfriend at the time. When I screamed at him to stop, he wouldn't."
“I was wearing a white tank top with spaghetti straps and pink Victoria Secret period shorts that said “sweet” or something on the butt. No bra. Eventually I put on a pink Georgia sweater and slippers.”
17-year-old Girl
"I was in bed with my toddler brother asleep next to me since he wanted to cuddle. My dad's friend was drunk staying the night. He looked up the stairs on the camera and was twisting his head as he looked up. He came into my room, kissed me, apologized, tried getting me out of bed, then told me being 17 and graduated from high school was the same as being an adult. When he noticed my brother, he tried to move him, so I chose to follow him downstairs to keep him safe. I put the dogs away like he asked, and he groped my butt and licked my neck while thanking me. I lied saying I had work, rushed upstairs, and cried for my parents until they chased him out of the house."
“Toddler clothes.”
Boy from ages 3-5
"I was sexually abused when I was a toddler by a member of the church my family is a part of. My mother went to the bishop to report it. It was dismissed and not talked about again, until I found out about it having occurred when I was in my early 30's. I was a toddler."
