396 Days of Dresses
Every single morning for nearly a year Marissa Otto, a junior at the University of Minnesota, has woken up and wandered to her closet to select a dress to wear for the day. Every single morning for nearly a year she has made a decision to “reclaim that simple choice [to wear a dress] as one of the many small freedoms we have that we take for granted all the time.” She continues, “It’s a conscious choice to use this small freedom to create a voice for people who might not otherwise be heard.”
Emboldened to get involved in the Dressember movement after learning about the reality of injustice in our world and seeing the passion for social justice of those around her (who had themselves participated in Dressember), Marissa followed suit. She spent the entire month of December donning dresses in the frigid Minnesota winter to raise awareness of human trafficking.
Marissa describes the Dressember movement as “joyful because people come together and form community as we fight for justice. But it’s also solemn because we are fighting against human trafficking and the realities of slavery in our world.”
“It’s a conscious choice to use this small freedom to create a voice for people who might not otherwise be heard.”
The Dressember movement is powerful. It creates community. It raises up advocates and generates awareness. It provides survivors and victims with resources. The issues being attacked by Dressember, however, are bigger than just one month, and Marissa wanted to take her efforts one giant step further.
One snowy month of advocacy was simply not enough for Marissa. “[Modern slavery] is an issue that deserves more attention… if I can do more, why not? Even if it’s just prolonging the Dressember movement.”
Marissa is doing just that—since participating in Dressember 2018 she has opted to wear dresses and fundraise for an entire year to contribute to the fight against modern slavery.
October marks Marissa’s eleventh consecutive month of Dressember. In such a big undertaking, you expect results just as big, but Marissa’s expectations have not always met her reality this year. Especially as a college student, it is difficult to gather financial support. She says, “It has been a huge lesson in diligence and continuing to push and continuing to fight even when it feels like what you’re doing isn’t making progress. It’s still making a difference.”
Marissa’s diligence has made a difference. Her dresses serve as a reminder of the realities of modern slavery to her nine roommates, her classmates, and her friends, family, and coworkers. She is an advocate every day for unheard voices everywhere she goes.
As an informed advocate of freedom, Marissa will tell you that human trafficking is not something that is only happening in third world countries. It is happening in every country—all over the world. Even the smallest things we do economically, socially, or politically, contribute to the issue. On the flip side, however, Marissa will tell you, “It is possible to fight against [modern slavery].” Organizations like Dressember and its partners exist to eradicate human trafficking and provide people with an accessible platform to join the fight.
Marissa specifically mentions International Justice Mission, a partner of Dressember that provides aftercare kits, instruction, legal representation, and more for survivors. Their giving page presents specific information about the care and services available to survivors through money donated to International Justice Mission, one of many tangible ways to fight injustice.
Marissa has additional advice for those considering a Dressember campaign of their own, “Just go for it. Don’t let fear stop you from it.” If wearing a dress every day for a month seems intimidating that is all the more reason to do it! “It highlights this small thing that is hard for us. But it’s insignificant compared to what other people are experiencing and the freedoms being taken from them.”
Dressember is more than a month. Dressember is more than a dress. Dressember is the spirit of community and uniting to fight modern slavery in the hope that, one day, we will live in a world where all a free. Until that day, we need people like Marissa to continue to stand up, speak out, and advocate for those without voices. Slavery does not cease to exist outside the month of December, nor does advocacy have to be limited to 31 days. How can you be an advocate 365 days a year?
To learn more about Marissa’s Dressember campaign and to donate to her mission, visit her page.
About the Author
Emma Pitzl is a senior at the University of Minnesota pursuing a degree in English with a minor in psychology. Her happy place is anywhere with a lake. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, running, playing volleyball, and curating too many playlists.