A series of protests is now happening in Ireland as a jury used a 17-year-old teenager's underwear to defend a man accused of raping her. The hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent also emerged on Twitter as women shared a photo of their undergarments as a sign of disapproval to the case's verdict.
Defense lawyer Elizabeth O'Connell showed a pair of the girl's underwear in court when a trial took place earlier this month. "You have to look at the way she was dressed," she said, per Irish Examiner. "She was wearing a thong with a lace front."
O'Connell also cited that the evidence seemed to prove that the victim was allegedly attracted to the defendant. She also added that the young woman appeared to be open to meet and be with someone. The 27-year-old accused was declared not guilty.
A lot of women showed their sentiments about the issue of consent. They, too, expressed their anger about the verdict and said it was a case of victim blaming. They even shared photos of their underwear, saying it was never a symbol of approval using the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent.
Dublin Rape Crisis Center, on the other hand, called out for legal reforms over O'Connell's remarks. However, it cleared that it was not questioning the court's ruling.
Rape Crisis chief executive Noeline Blackwell told the Irish Independent newspaper that the "mythologies and stereotypes" that surround rape issues happen over and over again. She also added that consent often gets used to defend the accused, so the defendant will do everything to prove there is consent.
Aside from the online movement "ThisIsNotConsent," started by the campaign group I Believe Her, there are also demonstrations happening across Ireland. Susan Dillon, one of the women who started the hashtag, told BuzzFeed News via Twitter DM that clothing is not a form of consent. It is victim blaming and archaic, and should never be part of the court system. She also explained that they used underwear as an element of their campaign to get people's attention and create an impact.
She admitted that she was even surprised to see the wide response the online campaign got. Dillon knew that people would be supportive of their move and would gladly support sexual violence survivors. "We have been overwhelmed by the response," she said.
Irish Parliament socialist member Ruth Coppinger even supported the #ThisIsNotConsent campaign when she revealed a pair of underwear at the assembly's lower house, Dáil Éireann. Dillon launched the online movement in March when two rugby players got acquitted of rape.
