How Bar Staff Around The World Is Rewriting Rape Culture
Not all heroes wear capes. Some mix drinks.
Donald Trump may be the most well-known man to admit to “grabbing them [women] by the pussy,” but he’s certainly not the only one. This year, Broadly obtained exclusive police figures demonstrating an upward trend in reported rapes stemming from London’s bars, clubs and pubs — the numbers reveal a 136% increase between 2011 and 2016.
There are less precise numbers available here in the states — as many incidents go unreported, it’s impossible to accurately determine how prevalent sexual assault truly is. However, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 25% of American women are victims of sexual assault and/or rape. Fifty percent of these incidents will involve alcohol consumption by either the instigator, victim or both.
Clearly, bar culture has not always been kind to women. And in the past, bar staff have been reluctant to intervene, even when they find themselves witnessing the harassment firsthand. But with the advent of social media and the creation of programs that train bar employees to recognize and respond to sexual harassment, these numbers may soon begin to dip.
