Staff Writer Ellie Fodor reflects on an evening focused on consent and tackling rape culture attended by the sports teams of GKT and KCL.
Last year in October, GKT and KCL sports teams gathered for an evening of critical reflection on rape culture, gendered expectations and student well-being in light of recent incidents of spiking over the last few years at Dover Castle and issues at Guys Bar.
Organised by GKT Ladies’ Hockey President Ella Job and led by Everyone’s Invited, a charity ‘dedicated to exposing and eradicating rape culture with empathy, compassion and understanding,’ the event was attended by 100 students (and 12 students online) from a variety of sports teams.
Members of GKT Mens and Ladies’ Hockey, GKT Men’s Cricket, GKT Men’s and Women’s Rugby, GKT Men’s and Women’s Football, KCL Dance, KCL Rowing, GKT Netball and the GKT British Medical Association, all attended in solidarity with the cause for changing sporting cultures.
We asked Ella Job why this event was so important in King’s now. She said:
“93% of women report experiencing any level of sexual harassment or assault during their life time. It might not be “all men” but it is close to all women. Therefore, it is not enough to simply not be the person who stands in the room, centre of attention and makes a rape joke. You need to be the person who holds their friends accountable, who rethinks the way they invalidate women’s stories and who actively understands the environment they are creating for the women and men around them. Just because you aren’t part of the active problem, does not mean you cannot be part of the solution. Because 93% is really not a number that we can stay silent for.”
The event was split to explore key themes of rape culture, gendered expectations and digital media as Everyone’s Invited encouraged audiences to go beyond traditional understandings of consent and rape culture.
Rape Culture
Beginning by asking the audience “What is rape culture?”, attendees were introduced to attitudes, behaviours and beliefs trivialising violence, such as misogynistic or rape jokes and how they might look. From dark memes to double standards and gendered representations (both ways), Everyone Invited sought to go beyond the conventional understanding of consent, such as the famous Tea Consent video you might have watched at school characterising rape culture into a hierarchy of violence.
The Prevalence of Sexual Violence
Shocking statistics brought gravity to the evening’s discussions: over 70% of female students, 26% of male students and 60% of LGBTQ+ students face sexual violence or harassment during their studies (Revolt Sexual Assault, 2018).
“On average, it takes male survivors 26 years to speak up about experiences of sexual violence.” (Survivors UK)
Gendered Expectations and Social Media’s Influence
A Slido poll prompted students to consider gendered expectations in relationships in response to the statement that “boys and men from generation Z are more likely to believe feminism has done more harm than good”.
Responses highlighted stereotypes, such as “women as emotional caretakers” and “men as providers,” that can contribute to toxic relationships. The influence of social media also took centre stage, with examples like influencer HSTIKKYTOKKY, whom the group dubbed a “misogyny sandwich” for combining positivity with toxic messages.
The misogyny sandwich works by ‘sandwiching’ misogynistic talk between mental and physical health content. The sexist content typically takes up the minority of the content but is more likely to be accepted or normalised alongside content that is generally considered positive and agreeable.
Fostering Change in Sports Culture
The evening concluded with a call to find positive role models online and address homophobia and misogyny in sports. Participants were guided on consent and the dangers of coercion in ‘giving consent’. Moreover, it supported healthy relationships by communicating and explaining clearly about one’s wants, needs, and feelings and how participants might support survivors. Participants left with a renewed commitment to fostering a culture of accountability, inclusivity, and respect within their teams.
What came about from the evening?
By the end of the event, the organisers had taken one step further by taking direct and participatory action. GKT British Medical Association, GKT Ladies Hockey Club, KCL Women In Surgery and GKT Women’s Rugby Club [Several Committees] have opened a joint letter against misogyny, sexual harassment, and assault to be submitted to King’s College London. You can share anonymous testimonies to be included in the letter here.
They’ve also raised over £600 for the charity through the Guys Bar sports night on Wednesday, 23rd October, to support further the charity in helping tackle issues of rape culture both within sports and in wider society.
If you have been affected by any of the content or issues raised in this article, Everyone’s Invited has a variety of resources for finding support. You can find it here.
