RED MY LIPS!!!!!!

By: Angel Gagoopane and Rose Mbokane

Wear red lipstick in April:  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise awareness about sexual violence and speak out against victim blaming.

Red My Lips is an annual global awareness campaign that asks supporters referred to as ‘Warriors’ to wear red lipstick throughout April to raise awareness and raise funds. The red lipstick project aims to create visibility, combat rape, myths and demonstrate solidarity and support for those who have survived sexual assault.

According to Essence Magazine, one of the most common myths about sexual violence is that it is provoked by attraction or desire. Instead of blaming the rapist for the rape, people often blame the victim saying “she looked too sexy”, “she was dressed provocatively” or “she asked for it”.

A red lip is often associated with vibrant sexuality and attraction; therefore wearing red lipstick is a fitting weapon to eliminate the stereotypes, damaging myths, and victim blaming mentality among societies. It gives supporters an opportunity to stand together and make the bold statement that victims are never responsible for sexual assault.

There aren’t too many set of rules for wearing a red lipstick, what works for someone else might not work for you so supporters must not be afraid to experiment with different hues of lipstick, so wear that red lipstick with confidence!

 To support this initiative, ‘warriors’ or any supporters can share a picture of themselves wearing their favorite red lip color on various social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using the hashtag   #RedMyLips