Sex and the City: Exploring Young Women's Perceptions and Experiences of Unwanted Sexual Attention in Licensed Venues

Abstract

Recent research has highlighted the need to explore how specific social contexts influence the occurrence of sexual violence and sexually harassing behaviours. This article considers the occurrence of unwanted sexual attention towards young women within the social context of licensed venues in Melbourne, Victoria. Using focus group data from a small qualitative study, three ‘characteristics’ of unwanted sexual attention are considered: the forms this behaviour takes and how it impacts young women; the nature of the relationship between victim and perpetrator; and the role of venue culture in facilitating this behaviour. It is argued throughout this article that an intersection of broader social norms and the specific social norms and cultural mores of licensed venues creates a social environment that can facilitate the occurrence of unwanted sexual attention, and that restrains the ways in which young women are able to respond to these experiences.