What Were You Wearing?

The University's Got Consent Committee is hosting an exhibition that aims to end victim-blaming and shatter the myth that sexual assault can be attributed to a person's choice of clothes.

What Were You Wearing? is a collaboration between the student-led Got Consent Committee, Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (FRASAC) and Fife Council's Violence Against Women Partnership (VAWP).

The art installation features recreations of outfits worn by survivors when they were sexually assaulted, accompanied by short testimonies of their experiences. With clothing including pyjamas, jeans, a work uniform and even children's clothes, the powerful exhibits seek to challenge the idea that provocative clothing is the cause of sexual assault.

What Were You Wearing? is an internationally recognised event which originated at the University of Arkansas in 2013, and the outfits and testimonies in the St Andrews installation match the original exhibition.

The project has been supported by Transition University of St Andrews, a partner involved in running StAndReuse, which donated clothing for the exhibits, and students on the University's Museum and Gallery Studies postgraduate course, who have assisted in curating the exhibition.

What Were You Wearing? takes place over the two days in the Large Rehearsal Room at the Students' Union and is open to students, staff and the public.

There will be a safe space available during the exhibition, run by a member of FRASAC.