3Q&A: OUR VERY OWN BEA BRADSELL + THE WOMXN OF TDC
Reflecting on March – not only as Women’s History Month, but also as a pivotal point in social history – we’ve invited our very own bartender extraordinaire, Bea Bradsell, to answer three topical questions around the on-trade, and her thoughts on its future. We’ve also included three personal accounts from womxn on our team, sharing lived experiences and thoughts on how to make our future a better one.
BEA
This International Women’s History Month has been as eye opening as it has been heartbreaking. The shocking statistics that have come to light seem to be waking men up to the how universally womxn are being attacked.
For womxn, it was just confirmation of what we’ve been exhausting ourselves shouting for years. This is not the first time these stories have made the headlines, but it really feels like the dialogue is beginning to change and the onus is being placed on men to create change. It may just be a starting point but it’s important to sustain the momentum and put in place policies that won’t disappear in a few months.
As bars are about to reopen in a new post-lockdown landscape, we must also make sure things don’t remain the same. We must make sure venues are no longer a hunting ground for violent men, and that all womxn are safe – whether they're socialising or working.
What changes are you hoping to see as the UK on-trade reopens after lockdown?
I’m hoping after the spotlight thrown on issues over the past few weeks mean voices will now be heard. Most women I know have been saying the same things for a very long time but have been ignored. Sexual assault convictions are at an all time low in the UK and this is because women are widely ignored, not believed or have had bad experiences with reporting in the past so they won’t do so now. When there is only a 3% conviction rate in London you understand why most women feel silenced.
If women are being ignored due to fear of false allegations this is putting the focus on a very small minority of incidents. Research in the US (sadly I don’t have UK data) finds that between 2-10% of rape allegations are false. When 97% of UK women have been sexually harassed and 96% of women won’t report as they feel like nothing will happen these are the larger statistics we need to be focused on.
2. How can brands show awareness and support around women's issues – where is there work to be done?
I think the change in dialogue is very important. Women are doing everything they possibly can to stay safe and are still being attacked. The focus needs to be combating the behaviours of men. Yes ‘not all men’ but enough. The vast majority of attacks on both women and men are perpetrated by men. A great starting point would be to see brands working with groups such a A Good Night Out to help get staff trained to recognise problematic behaviours, not just in venues but for events teams too.
Taking it closer to home and simply calling out language and behaviours when they’re seen. It’s a matter at looking at who’s working for you and who you’re working with. How your teams and collaborators behave in venues is noticed, especially by women.
3. What's your best bit of advice for women – or men – hoping to effect positive change in the industry?
Find your allies. It’s easy to feel alone or ignored, especially at the moment. There are plenty of groups that are there to help, act as a sounding board or even just be a group of like minded individuals. It’s easier to find strength to fight larger issues when you have a support system.
Remember there is no issue too small, if someone’s behaviour is negatively effecting you it needs to be addressed. If they’re doing something to you it is very likely they’re being that way with someone else as well.
Caitlin
I used to sing at the top of my lungs walking up the long, dark hill to my house after a close shift at the pub. I’d read somewhere once it would scare potential attackers off. On the same hill, late one night a man grabbed me after I declined his advances. Thankfully, a passing man ran out his car and the attacker ran off. The passing man walked me home, but it soon turned into a victim shaming blame game before we got to my house. In this house, at the top of the long, dark hill, a man broke in one afternoon I was working from home. Luckily, my shouts scared him off.
I had to make a decision after these things happened - live in fear, or accept that this probably could and would happen again.
I chose the latter, like it was the better of the two. Accept that I’ll probably be attacked walking back from work, or that a man will be able to enter my safe space at home whenever he likes, and I’ve just got to be ok with that.
Because that is the reality of being woman, and I am exhausted by it.
I’m exhausted crying for women who didn’t have someone run out a car to save them
I’m exhausted crying for the women who couldn’t shout loudly to scare them off.
I’m exhausted.
We are all exhausted.
SOPHIE
The last month has really made me reflect on some of the experiences that I had as a young women working in restaurants and bars in California in my late teens and early 20s. I remember the sexual jokes that men double my age thought were okay to say to me and I just laughed them off as I didn’t want to cause a scene. I remember the regular who refused to sit in anyone else’s section bar mine and would then follow me into tight serving stations to try and speak to me. I remember the Head Chef who asked me if I liked “the milk of the hombre” as I struggled to foam a latte in the kitchen.
But, I also remember the bouncers who checked in on me on cocktail shifts to make sure that none of the customers were acting up. I remember my dad who would wait for me and walk me home if I worked late. I remember the manager who refused that regular my section after noticing his odd behaviour. I remember my colleague who told the owner what the Head Chef had said to me as at 20 years old I was too scared too. I believe in this world there are always good people on the look out to help those that are more vulnerable, I just wish they didn’t have to.
CLAIRE
The news has been overwhelming lately. And the sad truth is, there's absolutely nothing 'new' about any of it. Violence, abuse and harassment towards women is so commonplace, it almost makes it easier for people to turn a blind eye to it. Shocking stats – such as the fact that only 1.4% of rapes reported result in the perpetrator being charged – can make speaking out or standing up for yourself seem futile, especially when back-up from peers and pals isn't readily available.
I know from personal experience that, when you do speak out, that uphill struggle is oh-so-very real. I've spent hours in a witness box reliving some pretty harrowing events. I've lost friends, and a ton of respect for people who chose what was easy over what was right. But what I've gained is so powerful and so permanent: the knowledge that me saying "enough" means someone else won't have to go through the same. And I'm not done yet, there's still so much to be done in rectifying the toxic culture that contributed to it all in the first place.
Saying something is hard, but I think reliving this Groundhog day of bad news will be infinitely harder in the long run.