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A feminist guide to freshers' week A feminist guide to freshers' week
(5 days later)
Freshers' week is supposed to be the highlight of first year, maybe of your whole degree. What could be better than a week of organised hedonism, away from the prying eyes of your parents and before deadlines loom? But for female students, freshers' week can be ruined by the sweaty, unwanted harassment of certain members of the student body.Freshers' week is supposed to be the highlight of first year, maybe of your whole degree. What could be better than a week of organised hedonism, away from the prying eyes of your parents and before deadlines loom? But for female students, freshers' week can be ruined by the sweaty, unwanted harassment of certain members of the student body.
When I was a fresher two years ago, my friends competed to be crowned Mr and Mrs of their halls. The girls performed lapdances, wrestled with each other and ate a banana from another's cleavage before one emerged victorious.When I was a fresher two years ago, my friends competed to be crowned Mr and Mrs of their halls. The girls performed lapdances, wrestled with each other and ate a banana from another's cleavage before one emerged victorious.
At Oxford University students from the drinking society Jezebelles were encouraged to perform sex acts with wine bottles, according to an anonymous student, and at one college, the rugby team selected a girl once a week, labelled "the token", to sit with them on their team night, says another student.At Oxford University students from the drinking society Jezebelles were encouraged to perform sex acts with wine bottles, according to an anonymous student, and at one college, the rugby team selected a girl once a week, labelled "the token", to sit with them on their team night, says another student.
Female students are often subjected to unwanted harassment during freshers' events, and sites like Uni Lad continue to spread misogyny to their 40,000 strong Twitter followers.Female students are often subjected to unwanted harassment during freshers' events, and sites like Uni Lad continue to spread misogyny to their 40,000 strong Twitter followers.
Sheffield University's freshers' week is being promoted by Eat My Disco, which promises "£1 doubles" and "topless bar staff" at the nightclub Replica. Carnage, the UK's "best student event", is still sponsored by Loaded and Nuts and is famous for its Pimps and Hoes nights. Sheffield University's freshers' week is being promoted unofficially by Eat My Disco, which promises "£1 doubles" and "topless bar staff" at the nightclub Replica. Carnage, the UK's "best student event", is still sponsored by Loaded and Nuts and is famous for its Pimps and Hoes nights.
Freshers' week still carries the twin expectations for many students that they'll get drunk and get laid. Perhaps that's putting it a little bluntly but it only echoes a 2012 flyer from Eat My Disco which declared "YOU'RE GOING TO GET LAID!" The ad was promptly banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.Freshers' week still carries the twin expectations for many students that they'll get drunk and get laid. Perhaps that's putting it a little bluntly but it only echoes a 2012 flyer from Eat My Disco which declared "YOU'RE GOING TO GET LAID!" The ad was promptly banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The frequently encountered combination of cheap alcohol, dark rooms and misinformed views can be alarming for any female student. However, freshers can hopefully have a misogyny-free week if they follow these guidelines:The frequently encountered combination of cheap alcohol, dark rooms and misinformed views can be alarming for any female student. However, freshers can hopefully have a misogyny-free week if they follow these guidelines:
A feminist guide to freshers' weekA feminist guide to freshers' week
Change the dress codeChange the dress code
Freshers' events this year have been toned down. Fancy dress themes have been scaled back from "Slag 'n' Drag" nights, as promoted at York and Oxford Universities' in 2012, to school disco or beach party events. These themes are open to interpretation, so don't feel pressured to don a skimpy outfit or bikini; shake things up and go as a coconut. Either way, only wear what you feel comfortable in and it will make for a much more enjoyable night.Freshers' events this year have been toned down. Fancy dress themes have been scaled back from "Slag 'n' Drag" nights, as promoted at York and Oxford Universities' in 2012, to school disco or beach party events. These themes are open to interpretation, so don't feel pressured to don a skimpy outfit or bikini; shake things up and go as a coconut. Either way, only wear what you feel comfortable in and it will make for a much more enjoyable night.
Don't try and earn easy moneyDon't try and earn easy money
Club promoters are forever on the lookout for female students with tight budgets. Don't be swayed by flexible shifts or the prospect of partying while you work. Any job that asks for a full-length photo for its application and requires you to wear little more than underwear should be avoided at all costs. Partying while you work becomes a lot less desirable when you're seen as little more than a fleshy object by the majority of drunken revellers.Club promoters are forever on the lookout for female students with tight budgets. Don't be swayed by flexible shifts or the prospect of partying while you work. Any job that asks for a full-length photo for its application and requires you to wear little more than underwear should be avoided at all costs. Partying while you work becomes a lot less desirable when you're seen as little more than a fleshy object by the majority of drunken revellers.
Stand up and speak upStand up and speak up
It's really daunting to be assertive during freshers' week when you're trying to make friends and fit in. Often, off-colour remarks are ignored lest confronting the speaker causes offence. Don't be afraid to say something though if someone is being misogynistic. Odds are, you're probably not going to be friends with this person anyway and you'll earn a lot of respect from equally offended but quieter students.It's really daunting to be assertive during freshers' week when you're trying to make friends and fit in. Often, off-colour remarks are ignored lest confronting the speaker causes offence. Don't be afraid to say something though if someone is being misogynistic. Odds are, you're probably not going to be friends with this person anyway and you'll earn a lot of respect from equally offended but quieter students.
Get involved with feminismGet involved with feminism
Despite growing support for feminism, greater awareness is still desperately needed. So at freshers' fair, sign up to join your feminism society, get to know your women's officer or society president, and start spreading the word.Despite growing support for feminism, greater awareness is still desperately needed. So at freshers' fair, sign up to join your feminism society, get to know your women's officer or society president, and start spreading the word.
Get involved with the Every Day Sexism Project on Twitter, and use social media to share your experiences to a wider audience than just your uni campus. Because, sadly, sexism doesn't end at freshers' week.Get involved with the Every Day Sexism Project on Twitter, and use social media to share your experiences to a wider audience than just your uni campus. Because, sadly, sexism doesn't end at freshers' week.
Have you experienced sexism this freshers' week? Tweet us @gdnstudents #freshersweeksexism to join the conversation.Have you experienced sexism this freshers' week? Tweet us @gdnstudents #freshersweeksexism to join the conversation.
• This article was amended on 24 September 2013 to make clear that Eat My Disco are not the official sponsors of Sheffield University's freshers' week. Sheffield University has no connection with Eat My Disco.
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