TMI?

A shirt causing controversy? I’ve come across this phenomenon before. However this seems a lot more “out there” than when my high school principle demanded I not wear my favourite shirt because it said “ass” and subsequently taped over one of the “s’s” in Ass when I refused.

Anyway, the shirt in question is one with an open safe on the front, inside the safe is a simple note saying “I was raped”.

This rape shirt is an interesting concept. I’m really not sure how I feel about it. Part of me feels like it’s just an attention grabber for rape victims. It’s horrible that people get raped, however publicizing it on a t-shirt might be going a little far with it. There is also a “I had an abortion t-shirt” as I understand it. My feelings for that shirt are the same as my feelings for the rape shirt.

I think deep down I feel like this shirt doesn’t need to exist. I’m not saying rape is something that should be swept under the rug ; far from it. I think rape victims should talk about their experience, and should own that heavy burden. But a t-shirt isn’t the right way to do so.

What happens when the nut bars out there start wearing it as a novelty or a joke. I’ve seen people walking around in shirts that say “pervert” on them like it’s a badge of honour or some big joke. I don’t think it’s a stretch to think that people would do the same with these shirts.

I don’t like it, I understand its point, but I don’t think it’s needed.

-Dion-