Thought-provoking Exhibit ‘What Were You Wearing?’ Returns to UToledo

Thought-provoking Exhibit 'What Were You Wearing?' Returns to UToledo

The University of Toledo's Title IX Office will host its ninth annual "What Were You Wearing?" exhibit, a nationally recognized installation confronting myths about sexual assault, this month.

Following the exhibit's kickoff on Monday, April 6, at 10 a.m., it will be open to the campus community.

The installation will be displayed on Main Campus from Monday, April 6, through Thursday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Carlson Library Room 1005. It will then move to Health Science Campus, where it will be open from Monday, April 13, through Thursday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Mulford Library on the fourth floor.

"What Were You Wearing?" is designed to spark dialogue around sexual violence prevention and survivor support. The exhibit confronts the harmful myth that survivors of sexual assault are responsible for what happened to them based on their clothing. It provides a safe, anonymous space for survivors to share their stories, each paired with a re-creation of the outfit they were wearing at the time of the incident.

Created at the University of Arkansas in 2013, "What Were You Wearing?" has since been featured at universities across the United States and around the world. The exhibit was first brought to The University of Toledo in 2018 by a Title IX graduate assistant. The stories included in the installation are updated annually as new submissions are received.

By engaging with the installation, community members can increase awareness of sexual assault and learn ways to advocate for meaningful change.

"By hosting exhibits like 'What Were You Wearing', we affirm that the University Libraries are more than simply repositories of materials, but rather they create spaces and time for dialogue, reflection and meaningful learning. Libraries are about conversations, and our hope is that this exhibit helps to foster awareness and a deeper understanding around issues of sexual violence and survivor support," said Thomas A. Atwood, dean of University Libraries.

Additional educational programming will be held throughout April in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, including a pair of presentations by UTMC's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). One presentation will take place on Main Campus on April 8 at 1 p.m., with a second session scheduled on Health Science Campus for April 15 at 1 p.m. More information about these events is available on the Title IX Office Invonet page.

"We hope that many members of the UToledo community will join us again this year to visit this impactful installation and take part in an educational learning event," said Michelle McDevitt, director of Title IX and Compliance & Title IX coordinator. "Our goal is for participants to reflect on how they can increase awareness and make a change, not only during the April awareness month, but all year."

The University of Toledo Title IX Office ensures compliance with federal law, investigates reports of sexual misconduct, implements supportive measures when necessary and works to remedy the effects of sexual misconduct. For more information on educational programming, resources or how to report an incident, stop by the Title IX Office in Snyder Memorial Room 1120, call 419.530.4191 or visit the UToledo Title IX website.