Benito Mussolini's granddaughter Alessandra Mussolini, center, and other members of Italy's Parliament protest Wednesday's ruling

ROME (CNN) -- Female legislators wore jeans to Italy's Parliament on Thursday to protest an appeals court's throwing out a rape conviction on the grounds it was "impossible" to rape a woman wearing jeans.

"This ruling is shameful. It offends the dignity of women," said Alessandra Mussolini, deputy of the rightist National Alliance, who led the protest.

On Wednesday, Italy's male-dominated appeals court overturned the conviction of 45-year-old driving instructor Carmine Cristiano, who had been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for raping an 18-year-old student.

The appeals court agreed with Cristiano's claim that the woman had consented to sex, because she was wearing jeans at the time.

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"It is common knowledge ... that jeans cannot even be partly removed without the effective help of the person wearing them ... and it is impossible if the victim is struggling with all her might," the court said.

The court also questioned why the victim, identified only as Rosa, waited several hours to tell her parents she'd been attacked.

Lawmakers call for 'skirt strike'

Mussolini and several other female members of Parliament came to work Thursday clad in blue jeans and holding placards reading, "Jeans: An alibi for rape."

They called on women across Italy to join a "skirt strike" and wear jeans until the court changed its decision.

"We thank the court for having enriched women's wardrobes with a new garment. To the business suit and the little black dress, we can now add the anti-rape outfit -- a comfortable and resistant pair of jeans," said union official Stefania Sidoli.

Opponents of the ruling say it may set a dangerous precedent.

"If we go on like this, every woman who doesn't wear a chastity belt will have the 'right' to be raped," said Sonia Viale of Parliament's equal opportunities commission.

A homemakers federation ridiculed the court by offering a prize to any designer who comes up with "easy-off jeans" and planned a march in jeans to the Justice Ministry.

The ruling also sparked a storm of protest from other judges, lawyers and politicians.

"The court's sentence contrasts with the principles of civil justice and is a worrying signal. It is a backward-looking ruling that strikes at ... the civil conscience of women and of the whole country," said Walter Veltroni, head of the Democrats of the Left party, the largest in Italy's center-left government.

A law student buying jeans in downtown Rome was outraged.

"Unfortunately, we're always trying to blame women for rape. So this shows there is still a lot of sexism around," she said.

Italy's appeals court, or Court of Cassation, is made up of 410 men and 10 women. In 1997, the court tossed out a sexual harassment case brought by a secretary against her boss. The court ruled the man was in love and was just being gallant when he kissed her. The woman was fired after she rebuffed his advances.

Rome Bureau Chief Gayle Young, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Political Resources for Italy
The Rape Crisis Center
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

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