Subway shirt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A subway shirt, or outfit dampener, is an oversized outfit worn by women to protect themselves while they commute on hot days.[1][2] This dress style is meant to protect women from unpleasant looks, sexist remarks, and hostile or violent confrontations.[3] This strategy is used by women in the U.S., U.K., and France.[3]
The trend of wearing oversized shirts to avoid unwanted male attention on public transportation began in New York City. The movement has gained traction,[4] with videos with the hashtag #SubwayShirt attracting millions of views.[3]
In the UK, 71% of women have encountered some type of sexual harassment in public places, according to a poll conducted on with the assistance of UN Women UK.[5]
Although the term "subway shirt" is new, choosing outfits to avoid harassment is not. A 2016 study in France, by the National Federation of Transport User Organizations ociations (Fnaut), found that 48% of women respondents acknowledged modifying their clothes in order to move about, such as wearing pants instead of skirt, or covering their cleavage with a scarf or a large sweater.[3]