mosh pits and sexual assault

Men, I ask you – when was the last time you worried about wearing something “too sexy” to a gig? When was the last time you wished you could take pepper spray into the mosh pit? When was the last time you worried about someone repeatedly grabbing your genitals as you tried to watch a band you love?

I sit here in a state of disbelief. How am I having to type these words in this day and age? IT IS NOT OKAY TO GROPE WOMEN AT SHOWS. For fucks sake, metalheads – how are things still not getting any better? Isn’t this meant to be a community built upon riffs and respect?

Despite multiple campaigns from the likes of Safe Gigs For Women, Girls Against, White Ribbon UK and Good Night Out – it appears that sexual assault is still occurring in many a mosh pit. Most recently, Slayers’.

Like any self-respecting thrasher, I revelled in all the photos and reviews being shared as Slayer embarked on their final shows on British soil. Fuck yeah, what a celebration! We are giving these icons the send-off they truly deserve.

Then I started to notice something.

Reports surfacing from women claiming that they had been sexually assaulted in the crowd. Initially I saw one or two, then -depressingly- more and more reports of sexual assault as the Slayer tour went on.

“During Slayer's set I ended up pretty close to the stage which was excellent. Except I got groped like 7 times at least... I stopped counting after that because there's just nothing I could do. You turn to see who it was and there's half a dozen different people all close enough to do it. I know the front of the gig is where you're going to have people pushing or falling into you and it can't always be helped where you end up colliding with another person. But I know the difference. I fell around a lot and never needed to reach into someone's top or grab an ass cheek etc to steady myself. I thought many times that I should head to the back so this would stop happening. But then, SCREW THAT! I have a right to be here without this shit, I want to be at the front, this is my last chance to see Slayer live and nobody is going to make me go and mope in the back of the room. I would forever regret that.”

“This drunk guy kept leering over my shoulder, he was trying to grind against my thigh so I tried to move so I had my back against him. Then he put his arm around me and slipped it down into my trousers and grabbed my vagina.”

“My wife left to stand at the back because she was getting groped too much.”

“I had my arse grabbed by strangers, one guy dragged me by the hair toward him”

These are a few of the quotes from the women who were willing to speak publicly about their ordeal. Men have also come forward to talk about the behaviour they witnessed at Slayers final UK shows:

“I saw this dude in the crowd who wouldn’t stop groping her, I tried to push my way through the crowd to help. She turned around to get away from the guy and he shoved her to the floor.”

Shocking. Even more so, when you consider these are all reports stemming from one recent tour. Thinking beyond Slayer, just how often is sexual assault still happening at metal shows?

Statistically, it’s hard to tell. With sexual assault being chronically under-reported due to women not receiving the benefit of belief; plus security guards often taking a vague, dismissive approach when girls inform them they’ve been groped. There is very little data in the form of hard numbers.

So, I took to a private online forum of exclusively female metalheads for a more qualitative approach to the issue. I asked 1000 members if anyone had been groped at a metal gig. I got responses from 455 individuals – all disgusting tales of men objectifying and violating women at shows. It is still a huge problem. And yet what actions are being taken to prevent it?

Well, sadly it seems the onus still falls on the woman. Female metalheads spoke about how carefully they choose their outfits when going to metal show - “I wore jeans and a turtleneck top to prevent it from happening” claimed one victim of assault at Slayers Cardiff show. How dismaying. We shouldn’t have to use dowdy clothes as some kind of protective armour. It’s not 1935 for fucks sake. Metal gigs should be places where everyone feels free to express themselves and wear what they like – without fear of being groped. A short skirt is not a fucking invitation to lay your hands on a woman.

Women also spoke to me about learning self-defence moves, so they could “punch anyone that grabs my boobs again in the pit.” Isn’t it despicable – that women should feel the need to defend their own bodies by taking violent action? All at the same time they are trying to enjoy a band they love?

It must be said that sexual assault seems to be symptomatic of big arena gigs / large metal festivals. It appears to be far less likely to happen at a small local show, most of which are dominated by respectful, collective scene values and a “self-policing” attitude. Perhaps being lost within the anonymity of a huge arena crowd can incite a lessening of moral restraint. I mean, groping a girl must certainly be easier when there are 10,000 other dudes who look like you in a dark, vast space.

Many women I spoke to claimed they no longer go to metal shows because they are sick of being harassed. All whilst several men complain that there are “no women at shows.” Co-incidence? I think not.

So, what can we do? How can we prevent sleazy misogynists from ruining metal shows?

Firstly, everyone: if you see something: SAY SOMETHING. The more we speak out, the less this behaviour will be tolerated.

Secondly, bands. I know you shouldn’t have to (I always winced whenever Papa Emeritus had to tell the crowd not to grope the nuns) but please take an active stance against sexual assault at shows. Fans are more likely to listen to you. Use your platform to initiate change.

Thirdly, sub-human molesting scum. IF YOU CAN’T GO TO A GIG AND KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF, THEN STAY THE FUCK AT HOME AND STOP RUINING IT FOR WOMEN.