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Photo by Mick Eagleson/The Advocate
The Clothesline Project is displayed in the College Center on the MHCC campus.
The shirts will be shown until Oct. 30.
Shirts provide healing for victims
The Clothesline Project returns to MHCC to represent various forms of abuse
The Advocate
The Clothesline Project that is displayed in the College Center through Oct. 30 is a significant part of healing for victims of sexual violence, according to Chrissy Bloome, MHCC nursing instructor and student health education counselor.
The Clothesline Project is a compelling visual display that shows the many forms of violence perpetrated against women and children according to a Clothesline Project handout in the College Center.
The shirts displayed on campus have been made by MHCC students and staff who were victims of sexual violence and, according to Bloome, it’s not just for women.
“It’s been at least three or four years” that MHCC has had this project displayed on campus, according to Bloome. Last year the shirts were displayed on a rotational exhibit, according to Bloome.
The Sexual Assault Resource Center came to campus last week and Bloome said it was reported during their presentation that on college campuses the rate of reported sexual assaults is about 5 percent.
“This blows my mind,” said Bloome.
Bloome pointed out that the shirts displayed are just the ones donated to the program and that there are more people who created shirts but did not donate them to the project.
The Clothesline Project was started with 31 shirts in 1990 through the Cape Cod Women’s Agenda.
The shirts represent a wide spectrum of abuse. Although each shirt is unique, a common color-coding is generally used to represent the different dimensions of violence. White shirts are for victims who have died as a result of domestic violence; yellow or beige shirts are for people who have been battered or assaulted; red, pink or orange shirts are for victims of rape or sexual abuse.
Blue or green shirts represent the survivors of incest and purple or lavender shirts represent people who were attacked because of their sexual orientation.
The exhibit in the Fireplace Lounge shows two white shirts, four yellow or beige shirts, eight red, pink or orange shirts, 10 blue or green shirts and one purple shirt.
To find out how to connect with a local Clothesline Project, call 503-896-1875.
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