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#RedMyLips Combats Sexual Assault, Victim Blaming With A Splash Of Bold Color
Red lips are now a symbol of solidarity between victims of sexual assault and their allies, and a bold statement against blaming rape victims for their lifestyle choices. April is 2015’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the #RedMyLips campaign asks women to share your support by slapping on your reddest lipstick and splashing it all over social media.
Red my lips with my boo Pixie is such a babe! ❤️ Leave a lipstick print on your dog and take them for a walk to show support for @redmylipsorg. Red My Lips is an international nonprofit organization that uses red lipstick as a weapon and a tool to raise awareness about sexual violence, combat rape myths and victim-blaming, and demonstrate solidarity and support for all survivors. ❤️ #redmylips #oktoshare #sexualviolenceawareness
A photo posted by Lisa Fortuin (@lisafortuin) on Apr 22, 2015 at 6:48am PDT
The #RedMyLips campaign has already seen success. There are more than 24,000 posts with the hashtag on Instagram, thousands more on Twitter and Facebook and, according to a social map made by Vocativ, a worldwide conversation.
It all started with one woman who didn’t have a voice.
The movement’s founder, Danielle Tansino, was 29 in 2011, when she said she was sexually assaulted during a night out with people she thought were friends. She said prosecutors dropped the case because, as one district attorney told her, “Jurors don’t like girls that drink.”
@redmylipsorg Raising awareness about sexual violence and to speak out against victim blaming #Redmylips #HumberCollege
A photo posted by Michael Osei (@mkosei) on Apr 22, 2015 at 11:29am PDT
Tansino was angry. And she armed herself with lipstick.
“One of the most pervasive myths about sexual violence is that it is provoked by attraction or desire. Connected with this, victims are often blamed, shamed, and forced to suffer in silence.
Given its connection with vibrant sexuality and attraction, red lipstick seems a fitting weapon with which to combat these damaging myths and victim-blaming attitudes. It gives supporters an easy (and safe) way to stand together and make the bold statement that victims are NEVER responsible for sexual violence. EVER.”
Makeup doesn’t speak. Clothes don’t speak. People speak. Remember #silence is NOT #consent. #onlyyesmeansyes Thank you @aidasoetopo for this powerful shot! #redmylips #redmylips2015 #speakout #endvictimblaming #endrapemyths #ok2share www.redmylips.org
A photo posted by @redmylipsorg on Apr 22, 2015 at 11:46am PDT
After April, the movement won’t be over. Tansino said you can still wear red lipstick and support the cause by donating, fundraising, or spreading the word on social media so that all victims get a chance to be heard.
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