How the feminist association Consentis fights against sexual violence in the festive environment

Article originally published on August 15, 2021.

Before the pandemic, the #MeToo and #BalanceTonPorc movements served as triggers for the best friends Domitille Raveau and Mathilde Neuville to be founded together in February 2018 the French feminist association for the fight against sexist and sexual violence in the festive environment, Consentis. Remember for Madmoizelle:

“We have found a lack of concrete awareness and prevention on site, so that is what we are trying to fill with different actions, setting up information stands, distributing posters and prevention in clubs, bars and festivals. Then the pandemic prompted us to rethink our strategy in the face of the closure of the nocturnal world. »

During the pandemic, the party has not completely disappeared, sexual violence even less

Consentis has therefore continued its work by investing more in social media, taking into account the transformations of the party, more oriented towards free parties and evenings in the apartment, and therefore the way in which sexual violence can be reconfigured even in this pandemic context.

The victim’s blaming that we internalize further complicates the filing of a complaint in the event of sexual assault during a clandestine party gathering more than 6 people or after a first date directly at home due to lack of a bar, for example.

It would be an illusion to believe that with clubs, bars and festivals officially closed, sexist and sexual violence in the party environment would suddenly disappear, waiting for deconfinement to reappear, explains Domitille Raveau, co-founder of the Consentis association:

“In France, discos and festivals have ceased throughout the confinements, but many people have continued to organize (illegal, suddenly) events. But these types of big events were quite exclusive since you already had to be part of this type of environment to have access to the information in order to access them. This is evidenced, for example, by the 2021 New Year’s rave party in Lieuron. »

Actually, even in apartment parties the issue of sexual violence must be raisedthe experienced social psychologist recalls:

“When we know in 8 out of 10 cases the victim knows his aggressor: it can therefore obviously happen during a small evening with friends, with the person we are in a relationship with, a friend, a friend of a friend, etc.

These are also private moments of prevention, as risk reduction actors do not have access to them. But some collectives have continued to work towards risk reduction in these spaces, such as Clearly Celebrate Around Drug Use and Collective Reflection on Sex-Po Environments. [sex-positifs] on sexual health, for example. »

Find out about consent to get back to partying at its best

Following in the wake of #MeToo, the pandemic may have enabled it a collective awareness of gender-based and sexual violence : domestic violence has exploded, and this in a relatively publicized way (+40% during the first birth, +60% during the second, according to the government platform ArretonsLesViolences.gouv.fr). Violence also within the family, as demonstrated for example by the sad case of many trans, lesbian, bisexual or gay people who have been forced by precariousness to return to live with their LGBTIphobic families.

As night fades in France, not everyone is necessarily in a hurry to find it, observes Domitille Raveau:

“Even since it is possible to go out again, and that festivals, for example, have resumed, we see that seats are sold very little, because social anxiety about dating, socializing, relationship, and thus the assumption of the risk of contamination still remains. »

Add to that the complications of health passes and PCR tests required to enter most party venues, and you have a late night kicking off in slow motion.

Sexual assault, night and day?

Could it be that we return more aware of ourselves and of others, more educated on the issues of sexuality and consent? It is believing that the pandemic has been a space-time of personal and collective introspection for everyone. But this was surely only the case with people who were already privileged, a priori. This is what leads specifically Domitille Raveau to qualify the fantasy of a return to the night without sexual violence :

“In normal times, the party allows people from totally different backgrounds to meet and mingle. During the pandemic, parties were private, so they brought together people who already knew each other, probably having access to the same kind of information, at the same stage of deconstruction. However, the lockdowns have also isolated many people.

Unless we evolve in a hyper-militant and relatively privileged environment, we haven’t necessarily managed to take the pandemic as a space-time for reflection, to return to the party more aware of ourselves and of others. »

And that’s why Consentis is stepping up its efforts to train as many people as possible on these topics, in party venues and on its networks. Like with these free posters to download and print, as well as the 5-step guide below for collective party throwers, which can inspire individuals too.

Since the party may not end, you might as well make it as welcoming as possible for everyone.

You can become a volunteer of the Consentis association by writing to: contact [arobase] agreed [point] information

Photo credit: pexels-edoardo-tommasini-3249760