According to a report by NUS, nightclubs have become a breeding ground for sexual harassment and violence, and many students perceive it as a normal but undesirable part of a night out, often not reporting it. To tackle this problem, popular London venues have taken an initiative to sign a pledge against the harassment of women and LGBT community, by undertaking specialized training of their staff and putting up posters encouraging victims to come forward. Despite these initiatives, many nightclubs continue to establish their business models around sexism and violence against women. The past few years have witnessed various cases, such as installing two-way mirrors in the women’s toilets of a Glasgow club and Valentine’s Day speed dating night in Nottingham being canceled due to complaints regarding the sexist theme.
Such nightclub cultures, particularly prevalent around student areas, make young people vulnerable to harassment almost every time they step out. Many students have shared their experiences of being groped, pinned against a wall, taunted, followed, or physically attacked, with no proper channel to report these incidents.
One individual recounted an incident when a man touched her vagina while dancing and gave her a look that clearly suggested his intentions. In another case, a girl had to lock herself in the toilet as a man followed her in, while in other instances, individuals were asked if they were gay, and when they denied it, they were knocked down by a group of men. In some cases, even physical defense triggered a violent response from the aggressor.
These stories reflect the seriousness of issues associated with sexual violence in nightclubs. It is crucial to establish proper prevention measures and ensure that victims are encouraged and able to report such incidents without the fear of retaliation. This can be done by enabling better training of staff, putting up posters, and establishing proper channels for complaints and action against such incidents.
Harassment has long been a prevalent issue and unfortunately, it’s something I’ve experienced regularly. Even in the five years I’ve been clubbing, I can’t recall a single night where I haven’t been subjected to an unwanted touch or advance.
However, my worst experience with harassment occurred when I was a fresher. While dancing with a circle of friends, someone put their arms around my waist and tried to pull me away from the group. On another occasion, a man at a campus party attempted to isolate me from my friends and even went as far as to grab and rip pieces of my clothing.
I once found myself in a situation where I was forced to defend myself inside a club. While attempting to pass a man who was leering at me, he grabbed my arm and pulled me close, demanding I dance with him. I refused and stamped on his foot to escape. Shortly after, a bouncer tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to leave for having assaulted the man. Despite explaining the situation, I was escorted out of the club and forced to leave in close proximity to my attacker and his friends.
Unfortunately, harassment seems to be an ongoing issue for myself and my friends. From having our bums pinched, to being pushed against walls and even having our crotches grabbed on the dancefloor, we’re constantly subjected to unwarranted advances. Recently, a group of ‘lads’ encircled us on a night out and proceeded to grope us wherever they could – a despicable act which is all too often dismissed as commonplace for any woman wearing a nice dress.
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