Editor’s Note: This email was sent to SSH and the author gave me permission to print it on the blog in the hopes of bringing more attention to the problem of harassment at clubs and to call out the Vodka Revolution Bar in Brighton, UK.
I am a student of Kings College London studying for a Masters Degree in Medical Ethics and Law and I am emailing to see whether it would be of interest to you to write a report regarding the sexism, shown by police, male club goers and bouncers, towards girls in the Brighton club scene.
On Sunday 15th January at around 1 a.m., I was assaulted in the Vodka Revolution Bar on West Street. A man (who I had never spoken with, seen, or even made eye contact with) grabbed me by the neck as I was attempting to make my way out of the club. Perhaps this was some strange attempt to kiss me. Naturally, I pushed him back and asked him what he was doing, he then began shouting in my face. I was obviously shocked by this and looked around to see if anyone else had seen this and could help, two men stood next to him also shouting at me. The first guy hit me over the head and I walked away (after having a good shout!).
My friend and I went away to find a bouncer, and reported this incident to him. He asked me to point out the guy, which I did. The bouncer said that he would go and speak to him, so I waiting by the stairs with my friend, Katie. After 10-15 minutes, the bouncer returned, fresh drink in hand, and informed me that the man had told him that he “didn’t know what he was talking about”. To which I pointed out that “of course he would say that…”. The bouncer said that as he did not witness the incident, there was not much that could be done.
I told the bouncer that I wanted to report this incident to the police, he went away and fetched them and lead me towards the fire exit where they were waiting. I told one of the policeman exactly what happened, and he suggest that as my friend and I are “both pretty girls” we pretty much had to expect this sort of this. He mentioned the “pretty girls” comment a few times before I calmly accused him of being sexist and suggested to him that the fact that I am wearing a dress and have gone to a club does not give a man license to grab me, hit me and scream in my face. I then told him that if I had gone out in jeans in the middle of the day and this had happened to me, this may have ben treated very differently.
The officer took my details, as did one of the bouncers. Another police officer imerged and said that they were now going to kick the guy out – although I did not see this happen and it did not look as if they were going to. The officers stood around under the stairs just so that it looked like they were going to do something. The bouncers also told me that they would look at the CCTV and call me. My friend and I got our coats and left through the fire exit.
Today I have called the club and spoken with the manager who says that no one had logged this. No one would have contacted me. No one looked at the CCTV. This afternoon, the manager has looked for this incident on the CCTV and said that as the cameras are in a bad position, he would not be able to see anything. Not good enough.
I was not drunk, although I had had a couple of drinks. I was wearing a short black dress. Where I am and what I am wearing should not give drunken men license to assault me, it should not give bouncers license to ignore me, and it should not give police officers license to blame me for the way I present myself. I thought that we were passed this – apparenty not.
This story may not be of interest to you, but on behalf of all the girls who have to put up with this sort of sexism every night I felt that I should say my piece.
Thank you for taking the time to read my email.
Kind Regards,
Sophie Calas
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Beckie says
I feel so badly for you. I reported to police about men who harass men daily when I am at my south beach, FL condo. The police came and saw, and of course the men hid, but were back on the same corner a day later. That was last winter. I am going back in days for two weeks of “fun in the sun,” but every time I walk to the beach I will have to face these guys, and it will start all over again. I think we have to keep complaining. We have to try. And if enough of us keep doing it, I hope things will change. In the meantime, you go girl for doing so much and for fighting so hard for your rights.
Will be thinking of you as I report these men again, and again, until it stops for good!
Toby says
My email to Revolution:
“To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Toby K____ and I am an independent activist writing to you regarding an incident which took place at your bar on 15 January. A young woman named Sophie Calas was assaulted, and ignored by bouncers. I kindly ask that you follow up with Ms. Calas and review video footage of the event with her so that she can prosecute the man who attempted unwanted sexual contact, yelled at her for refusing it, and physically hit her. I also ask that you train your bouncers to be responsive and respectful should such incidents occur.
Women deserve public spaces be safe, and I would assume the role of the bouncer is to assist the clientele in enjoying the space without being molested, insulted, threatened or assaulted.
Please follow up with Ms. Calas so that we can follow up on the website http://www.streetharassment.com with a positive update on your bar’s management and customer service policy as it relates to women.
Regards,
Toby K_____
PS Your contact field doesn’t allow me to input a telephone number from the United States, so I’ve put in a random UK cell number. You can disregard that!”
[The random cell number was the only way. I first tried my own USA number, that didn’t work, then I tried putting in the number for Heathrow Airport (and of course, mentioned that it was the number for Heathrow Airport) and it wouldn’t go through…! Funny.]