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In pictures: Ordinary women send an extraordinary anti-rape message.

“No one should be able to blame rape on a short skirt. A short skirt can’t talk – a short skirt can’t say ‘yes’.”

A victim of rape is never responsible for the crime.

They never ‘asked for it’. And they never ‘had it coming’ because of what they were wearing.

New social media campaign #ThisDoesntMeanYes is tackling the issue of victim-blaming by pointing out that what a woman wears has nothing to do with whether she consents to sex.

Related: “I objected to a comedian’s rape joke. So he told me to die.”

“There’s a myth that surrounds women, a myth that embroils them: women who dress or behave suggestively, women who are playful or who act provocatively, women who flirt or openly discuss sex – they’re ‘asking for it’,” the campaign’s website says.

Image via Twitter.

 

“It’s an insidious fable, and it needs to stop. Every woman has the right to freedom of expression.”

“No woman deserves to be raped for it. No one should be able to blame rape on a short skirt. A short skirt can’t talk – a short skirt can’t say ‘yes’.”

More: 10 perfect ‘rape-prevention’ tips every man needs to read.

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The now viral anti-rape campaign began when four English women teamed up with renowned photographer Perou and hit the streets of London and snapped 200 women in their own clothing.

Image via Twitter.

 

New Statesman reports the campaign began after Nathalie Gordon, Lydia Pang, Abigail Bergstrom and Karlie McCulloch overheard two men in a bar comment that a woman nearby was “asking for it”.

Their friend, a rape victim, was extremely upset at the offensive comment. They decided to take action and, in partnership with Rape Crisis South London, earlier this month took to the streets with a pop-up studio.

The women said they were fighting back against campaigns that place the onus on the victim. Now, women all over the world are jumping on board, posting pictures of their own outfits with the hashtag #ThisDoesntMeanYes.

This is one straight-talking message we hope continues to spread far and wide. Bravo, ladies.

To join in on the campaign, post your own photo to Twitter or Instagram along with #ThisDoesntMeanYes.

Check out the campaign so far in the gallery below. 

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