If you’re a woman who goes to gigs often chances are you have experienced some form of harassment, from being crushed at the barrier so you can’t really breathe, or feeling some man’s hand where it shouldn’t be and feeling too scared to speak up.
After a bad experience at a Peace concert, teenager Hannah Camilleri shared her experience online:
“One of them put their hands on my waist. I presumed it was an accident ‘cause everyone touches everyone at gigs, so I brushed them off because I wasn’t okay with it. It kept happening though, and he kept trying to put his hands in my tights. It made me feel so uncomfortable, I had nowhere to go because I was up against the barrier.’
Would you feel able to approach security if you were being sexually harassed at a gig?
— girlsagainst (@girlsagainst) November 5, 2015
She then joined forces with her friends Anna, Ava, Bea and Anni to form Girls Against Gig Groping in September of this year. According to their Tumblr: ‘We are here for all victims of sexual harassment, regardless of gender. We realise that men can be victims, trans people can be victims, and anyone else of any gender identity/expression.’
Also, be critical of those whose music you look up to. Don’t hold them on a pedestal they’re human, they make mistakes, they are often wrong — girlsagainst (@girlsagainst) November 15, 2015
I spoke to the group and asked them how they plan on combatting this problem in the live music scene with their campaign: ‘If it’s known about more by fans and bands then it’s less likely to happen because the perpetrators know they’re more likely to be caught/ pulled up for it. We’re also in the process of speaking to security companies and venues to collaborate and get their views on it. Hopefully this will end with us establishing a solid security plan for occasions where it could happen and proper punishment etc.’
received the first batch of badges – we care so much about this campaign and can’t wait to further involve you all ? pic.twitter.com/ElPBIsM8wv
— girlsagainst (@girlsagainst) November 14, 2015
The young women also offer a safe space on their Twitter and Tumblr accounts where people can share their experiences and talk about incidents that happened to them. The campaign has been greeted warmly by bands, with people coming together to try and stamp this out for good.
Be good to each other in the pits. No place for shady macho behaviour towards the sisters! ? — Yannis Philippakis (@YnnsPhilippakis) November 7, 2015
Hola. If like us (and most sensible people) you think groping anyone at a gig is abhorrent check out @girlsagainst, they do great work 🙂 — The Ketonas (@TheKetonas) November 17, 2015
