During the past week, there have been many articles published online about Lindsay Armstrong while women across North America have been posting photos of their underwear online - but how are these two stories linked?
We scroll past these stories, not fully understanding what this new movement is about or who this girl is regardless of how many times her name is in a headline. I'm here to tell you who Lindsay Armstrong is, and why women seem to be sharing photos of their undergarments on Instagram and Twitter.
A recent case in Cork, Ireland has sparked controversy after a senior defense counsel used an alleged rape victim's underwear to argue in court that she had consented to sex, reportedly based on the fact that her underwear was a thong.
@free_safariNow, the mother of Scottish teenager, who was a rape victim, is speaking up on the matter. The mother of Lindsay Armstrong talked about how her daughter's underwear was a focal point of her own rape trial back in 2002. Shortly after the trial ended, the 17-year-old took her own life and died by suicide.
Now, her daughter's story has become a pillar in a new movement gaining traction around the world.
@alexjsadeum16 years ago, Lindsay Armstrong, appeared in court after she was sexually assaulted in a park near her home in September 2001. During her trial, Armstrong was asked to repeatedly hold up her thong in court and was even asked to read the phrase printed on the front, which said "Little Devil". Her mother talks about how humiliating it was for her and that counsel tried to argue that she had consented to sex and the evidence was based around her underwear.
Even though the 15-year-old boy was found guilty of raping her, Lindsay took her own life two weeks after the trial ended.
Now, her mother is speaking up on the most recent case in Cork, Ireland, explaining that she's appalled that "this kind of thing is still being used as evidence." She said that she learned about this case when a friend sent the story to her and it brought all the bad memories of her daughter's case back.
Here's a video of Mrs. Armstrong speaking to Irish Parliament over the recent case in Cork, Ireland.
UNDERWEAR IS NOT CONSENT. CLOTHES ARE NOT CONSENT. THIS IS NOT OK. Underwear held up in Irish parliament in protest over rape trial comments https://t.co/NTEJnwiu4C
Now, protests about the case that started in Cork have quickly spread across the world. Women are sharing photos of their own underwear in solidarity with Armstrong and the latest alleged rape victim in Ireland.
Protest in Dublin city centre this afternoon. Ruth Coppinger is calling for rape myths to be dispelled in our courts. Protesters hold up underwear and signs saying ‘this is not consent’ pic.twitter.com/xwM540UWGF
Clothing does not equal consent. This is not an open invitation to rape or sexually assault women.No means No. #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/DipXMgk73d
This Is not consent! My clothing has nothing to do with anything. I wear my underwear because it makes me feel good, empowered and like myself. How dear anyone take that away from me or any women. #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/zspAajDOf3
Yep. Those are my pants. But this is not consent. .Underwear is not consent. Underwear does not cause rape. Rapists cause rape. Stop victim blaming!!!!!#ThisIsNotConsent #ibelieveher #metoo pic.twitter.com/wnd5MYGgCw
This is not consent #ThisIsNotConsent #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/DWQfWNqhsA
Source: Telegraph UK, Independent