WIESBADEN, Germany-- The Wiesbaden Army Garrison Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) office and the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade worked together to organize the Look SHARP Clothing Exchange at the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center October 24, 2019.
The exchange helped share the message of sexual harassment and assault prevention with military dependents and Department of Defense civilians who may not have the same SHARP training given to Soldiers throughout the year.
The organizers challenged the myth that provocative clothing is a cause in sexual assault and harassment cases by dressing mannequins around the event in similar clothing to actual victims of assault. The clothes ranged from an Army Physical Fitness Uniform to casual dress wear and illustrated that perpetrators of sexual assault do so regardless of clothing choice of the victim.
Spreading the SHARP message to a wider audience lets people know that the SHARP offices are not only for Soldiers, but also for Soldiers’ families and government workers, said Bill Mottley, the Wiesbaden Garrison SHARP Program Director.
This was the second Look SHARP Clothing Exchange at the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center. The event not only helps out members of the community by allowing them to donate clothing and add items to their wardrobe, but it also allows the SHARP program to spread more awareness about the realities of sexual assault and harassment and reach a wider audience.
The Look SHARP Clothing Exchange was the brainchild of Deborah Wagner, the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.
“This event would not be possible without the generosity of the community members who donate and come out and participate,” Wagner said. “We are here to show that consent never goes out of style and to change the culture around victim blaming and show that when it comes to sexual assault, what you wear is not the issue.”
Wagner says that she hopes that the Look SHARP Clothing Exchange will become an annual event that will continue to help the community and raise awareness.