Content Warning:
This page includes descriptions of violence that may be upsetting or difficult to read.
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“What Was I Wearing?” (“¿Qué Traía Puesto?”) was organized by SAFE in collaboration with survivors of sexual violence. Our goal is to raise awareness and challenge the harmful questions and responses that place blame on the person harmed rather than the person that chose to harm them. We cannot end sexual violence by changing our clothes. We can only end it by changing our attitudes.
The testimonies in this exhibition were shared by actual survivors, and the outfits displayed were assembled based on the descriptions they offered, or from clothes donated by the survivors themselves. We have displayed their testimonies with minimal edits, alongside their age when the incident(s) occurred.
We would like to thank everyone who participated for trusting us with their stories. We are honored to share this space with you.
If you are interested in attending this exhibition, please use this link to sign up and reserve a time to attend.
The following poem by Mary Simmerling inspired the first exhibition at the University of Arkansas in 2013.
What I was wearing
was this:
from the top
a white t-shirt
cotton
short-sleeved
and round at the neck
this was tucked into
a jean skirt
(also cotton)
ending just above the knees
and belted at the top
underneath all this
was a white cotton bra
and white underpants
(though probably not a set)
on my feet
white tennis shoes
the kind one plays tennis in
and then finally
silver earrings, and lip gloss.
this is what i was wearing
that day
that night
that fourth of july
in 1987.
you may be wondering
why this matters
or even how i remember
every item
in such detail
you see
i have been asked this question
many times
it has been called to my mind
many times
this question
this answer
these details.
but my answer
much awaited
much anticipated
seems flat somehow
given the rest of the details
of that night
during which
at some point
i was raped.
and i wonder
what answer
what details
would give comfort
could give comfort
to you
my questioners
seeking comfort where
there is
alas
no comfort
to be found.
if only it were so simple
if only we could
end rape
by simply changing clothes
i remember also
what he was wearing
that night
even though
it’s true
that no one
has ever asked.
by Mary Simmerling
