WARNING: DRUNK WOMEN ATTRACT MEN WHO WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM FOR SEX AND POWER
Ok, maybe not so much of a surprise. But it is handy to have a formal study conducted to “prove” what most of us have surmised as an obvious truth; the more drunk a woman appears, the more likely she’ll attract predatory men to take advantage of her drunken state. 90% of all aggressive encounters in bars resulted when a predatory man approached a woman whose drunken state made appearance to seem “easy.”
THE DRUNKER THE WOMAN, THE MORE LIKELY TO BE TARGETED FOR SEX. AND POWER. FYI.
The study was recently published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and focused on what instigates sexual aggression in bars. But even further (yet completely expected) the level of harassment a “drunk” woman tends to experience in in proportion to how drunk they appear to be. So if you didn’t already know because you’ve never been to a bar, not watched TV, had a sister, mother or ever known a woman who lives in the Western World, be advised: if women look drunk, they get harassed in proportion to how drunk they appear to be.
Dr Kate Graham, from the University of Toronto said: ‘Recent data suggests that aggression related to sexual advances is very common nowadays. ‘Participants were recruited on their way to bars, and then asked additional questions about two common forms of sexual aggression we observed – unwanted sexual contact and unwanted persistence.
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‘When they were leaving the bar district, more than 50 per cent of women reported experiencing one or both types of sexual aggression on the evening of the exit survey.’ Dr Jeanette Norris, from the University of Washington added: ‘Given the large number of young people who socialise together in bars, it is not surprising that a great deal of sexual assault occurs there.’ Experts believe that predatory men feel they can ‘get away with it’ because they consider bars to be a rule free environment.
DOCTORS MAKE THE CONNECTION TO ALCOHOL AND LOSS OF INHIBITIONS, FOR BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY
‘I don’t think you could get away with this sort of thing in most settings,’ said Dr Graham. ‘If a stranger came up to a woman, grabbed her around the waist, and rubbed his groin against her in a university cafeteria or on a subway, she’d probably call the police. In the bar, the woman just tries to get away from him.’ Dr Norris added: ‘Bar-based aggression is almost certainly more likely to involve people who do not know each other very well or at all. ‘This could have at least two consequences. First, perpetrators might be more likely to depersonalise and dehumanize the targeted woman. ‘Second, it might lead perpetrators to feel more “protected”, that is, to believe they are less likely to suffer any consequences for their actions.’
STUDY MUST BE LEGIT AS IT WAS IN POLITE TORONTO, CANADA
Researchers looked at 1,057 incidents of ‘aggression’ between 2000 and 2002 in a variety of different types of bars in Toronto, Canada. It was revealed that around a quarter (24.4 per cent) involved sexual aggression. ‘We found that while misperceptions in the making and receiving of sexual advances do occur, especially in the highly sexualised environment characteristic of many bars.
HARASSMENT MAKES THE MAN FEEL GOOD, OR LOOK GOOD FOR FRIENDS
‘Most of it appeared to be intentional harassment or aggression done for the amusement or gratification of the person making the overture, or for the amusement of his friends,’ said Dr Graham. ‘Instead, women who are more intoxicated may be seen as easier or more blameworthy targets, or as targets less able to resist. Researchers believe that this could do with how likely men feel they are to be caught.
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‘These men are the ultimate opportunists. What might also come into play are negative stereotypes about women who drink,’ said Dr Norris. ‘They may also be seen in generally negative or derogatory ways – as sluts, unfeminine, or generally not worthy of respect – which may provide an excuse for attacking women sexually.’Researchers believe that avoiding having male security staff, putting up signs by bathrooms, and training bar staff to intervene earlier.’There need to be clear messages to men about the inappropriateness of any type of sexual aggression, said Dr Norris.
‘In addition, women need to learn to overcome messages they may have received early in life about being deferential or not wanting to cause embarrassment or ‘create a scene.’ ‘Women need to be taught to stand up for themselves, to recognize that a sexually aggressive man is someone who has a problem and the onus should be placed on him to stop his unacceptable behaviour.’ But Katie Russell, spokesperson for Rape Crisis England & Wales, told MailOnline: ‘Rape is a calculated act and rapists often target victims who they deem vulnerable or who they think won’t be believed.
‘This is why it is vital that we raise awareness that 100 per cent of the responsibility for any act of sexual violence lies with its perpetrators, that the victims are never in any way to blame, and that sex with someone who is incapacitated through drink or drugs, and therefore unable to give their consent, is rape. ‘Until we focus our attention on the behaviour of perpetrators, instead of judging women and implying they’re partly responsible for sexual violence perpetrated against them, rapists will continue to get away with it. ‘Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that the majority of sexual violence doesn’t take place in bars between strangers; 90 per cent of those who are raped or sexually assaulted know the perpetrator before the incident.’
