The Significance Behind the Clothesline Project
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April which focuses on increasing awareness about sexual assault and guiding individuals to act against instances of sexual violence, we also participate in The Clothesline Project, which is an event intended to speak up about violence against members of the community and to display the impact that stems from violence.
The display consists of various t-shirts which have been designed by survivors of violence and their loved ones. This project was first introduced by Rachel Carey-Harper in 1990, who wanted to hang color-coded t-shirts in a public area in order to bring awareness to the fact that while 58,000 soldiers died in the Vietnam War, 51,000 women were killed by men who claimed to love them.
The project started with only 31 shirts, but today, an estimated 500 projects have been launched worldwide to make the statement that while we continue to see violence in our daily lives, this project also brings healing, hope, and solidarity to those who have been impacted.
The Clothesline includes shirts of different colors, which are used to represent different forms of power-based personal violence.
- White represents people who have died due to violence.
- Yellow or beige represents battered or assaulted victims.
- Red, pink, or orange are for survivors of rape and sexual assault.
- Blue or green represent survivors of incest or child sexual violence.
- Purple or lavender represents people attacked because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Black represents people permanently handicapped as a result of violence or who were abused because they are disabled.
“This project is one that is very near and dear to my heart. Going through all of the different shirts displayed in this year’s Virtual Clothesline Project brings up a lot of memories that I have wanted to forget; but now, I don’t feel silenced anymore. I feel heard. I used to run away from my past, but knowing that I’m not alone brings me a sense of peace and comfort; feelings that I never thought I would ever feel again. Although we have come together to create a safe place for everyone and anyone who would like to participate in this event, along with other events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I also feel a sense of bittersweetness, because while I am hopeful in myself and my own healing process, I am still reminded that with every shirt on display, along with many more untold stories, comes painful memories that I am all too familiar with. I truly hope that as our community learns more about the experiences of survivors and their loved ones, we can all help to build a better tomorrow; one void of power-based violence.”
— A UCI Student
As we continue to work towards a world where different forms of violence cease to exist, let’s continue to educate ourselves and spread awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence.
If you would like to view the 2021 Virtual Clothesline Project, please visit this page here.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, please consider the following resources:
- UCI CARE: (949) 824–7273 or email care@uci.edu. M-F: 8 AM-5 PM.
- UCI Counseling Center: (949) 824–6457.
- Waymakers 24-Hour Hotline: (949) 831–9110 or https://waymakersoc.org/ for 24/7 services over the phone.
- FORGE: https://forge-forward.org/ for direct services to transgender, non-conforming, and gender non-binary survivors of power-based violence.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network): (800) 656–4673 (HOPE) or www.rainn.org.
