How young women in Ireland manage safety on a night out
Summary
Shannon Hughes Spence, a research assistant at DCU, discusses her study on women's experiences going out, highlighting the coexistence of enjoyment and fear. She notes that while women use safety strategies like "uniform" dress and safety in numbers, these often feel exhausting and insufficient. The conversation covers the inadequacy of venue policies like "Ask for Angela" and the legal gap where drink spiking lacks standalone legislation. Spence advocates for a cultural shift where friends hold each other accountable and venues take responsibility to address the root causes of sexual viole…
Topics discussed
Flex Car advertisement and show introduction
The difference in vigilance for men and women going out
Interview with Shannon Hughes Spence on dual feelings of fun and fear
Sources of fear: personal experience vs. media and friends
Methodology: recruiting participants via social media and venues
Impact of assault on future behavior and venue choices
Experiences of drink spiking and venue staff responses
Availability and effectiveness of safety codes like 'Ask for Angela'
Clothing choices as a collective safety strategy
Safety in numbers and the exhaustion of constant vigilance
Anger, accountability, and the need for cultural shift
Strategies for change: peer accountability and legislation
Listener comments and legal status of spiking in Ireland
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