What Were You Wearing? Exhibit
*This content contains themes of sexual violence and may be upsetting to some viewers
April 1, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lindquist Hall 2nd Floor
Purpose of the Exhibit
The intent of the exhibit is to break down the stigma of sexual assault while dispelling victim-blaming behaviors and rape myths. Survivors of sexual assault are often asked “What were you wearing?” placing the burden of the crime onto them. Clothing is irrelevant and does not provoke sexual assault.
As you move through the exhibit, you are invited to step into survivors’ perspectives by viewing recreated outfits, reading their stories, and engaging with additional interactive installations. Each piece centers survivor voices and challenges common misconceptions about sexual violence.
Presented by the CJ/PSY 4900 course focused on debunking sexual violence myths, What Were You Wearing? is an art exhibit based on survivor descriptions of the clothes they wore during their sexual assault. These anonymous narratives were collected by Dr. McKenzie Wood and Dr. Kathryn Sperry. Students thoughtfully interpreted and recreated the described outfits to honor survivors’ experiences and underscore a powerful truth: what someone wears is never the cause of sexual violence.
Exhibit Agenda
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
2nd Floor of Lindquist Hall
Weber State Ogden Campus
9 a.m. Exhibit Opens
10:30-11:20 a.m. Presentation by Abigail Webb from Safe Harbor of Davis County: Survivor Help-Seeking Barriers and the Importance of Advocates
11:20 a.m. Pizza
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Presentation by Jessica Patten from Hill Air Force Base: Trauma Brain and Military Resources
6 p.m. Exhibit Closes
Exhibit visitors are invited to park at the Dee Events Center and ride the free shuttle into campus.
What I was wearing
Poem by Mary Simmerling
was this:
from the top
a white t-shirt
cotton
short-sleeved
and round at the neck
this was tucked into
a jean skirt
(also cotton)
ending just above the knees
and belted at the top
underneath all this
was a white cotton bra
and white underpants
(though probably not a set)
on my feet
white tennis shoes
the kind one plays tennis in
and then finally
silver earrings, and lip gloss.
this is what i was wearing
that day
that night
that fourth of july
in 1987.
you may be wondering
why this matters
or even how i remember
every item
in such detail
you see
i have been asked this question
many times
it has been called to my mind
many times
this question
this answer
these details.
but my answer
much awaited
much anticipated
seems flat somehow
given the rest of the details
of that night
during which
at some point
i was raped.
and i wonder
what answer
what details
would give comfort
could give comfort
to you
my questioners
seeking comfort where
there is
alas
no comfort
to be found.
if only it were so simple
if only we could
end rape
by simply changing clothes
i remember also
what he was wearing
that night
even though
it’s true
that no one
has ever asked.