shooter ! It is the rallying cry of a generation. And it is unfortunately the prospect (and the signal?) of a possible sexual assault for the girls who go out to bars, are going to celebrate their end of session or water their graduation. Unknowingly intoxicated with GHB, the “date rape drug”, they become little puppets that are easy to handle. Besides, they don’t remember anything, comatose and nauseous, their panties on the ground, literally.
Sandrine Pelletier, Aïcha Gascon-Vézina, Rozana Ryan and Léa Tanguay are 19 to 22 years old, they study theater at CEGEP, history at university or work. At the age when we discover freedom and love, all four of them have been drugged in the last weeks or years. Rozana has been there twice in six months, including two weeks ago at the Nacho Libre bar. Sandrine too, in January.
All of them got help from friends who recognized the signs of the “date-rape drug”, except Aïcha, who found herself without her personal belongings, lying on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, her pants open, dazed. black out. She remembers being pushed out of a car by three guys. “I know how to handle myself. I was not drunk ! specifies the young woman who is studying to become TES.
I arranged to meet them at a downtown bar this week to chat about ” dating “, guys, of rape culture. Yes, yes, let’s dare to use big words.
The Council’s definition of the status of women (taken from the UN): ” [kyltyʁ dy vjɔl] nf – Set of behaviors that trivialize, excuse and justify sexual assaults, or turn them into jokes and entertainment. The body of women is considered there as an object intended to satisfy the needs of men. Sexist comments abound and they create a comfortable climate for abusers. In such a culture, the responsibility for the aggression lies with the victim, whose word is called into question. »
Rozana, 22, adds: “I was raped when I was 20 by a ‘friend’. I don’t know any girl who hasn’t been raped or assaulted. Same thing for GHB. All the girls have experienced it or know someone close to whom it has happened. ‘GH’ can kill, but rape is not as bad…” jokes Rozana.
What should be normal? That girls in this system still dominated by male power should not let their guard down at any time? […] No, I’m not getting angry tonight…
Oh, of course, they watch their drink, take precautions, but you also have to wear suspenders, a belt and provide latex condoms… for their drink, with a hole for the straw. They are sold for $38 per trio on Amazon, but they are reusable. shooter !
From education to culture change
Young guys their age get hot with videos of Andrew Tate (https://nym.ag/3lcifpw), don’t be surprised if they can’t take a no. No matter how hard you train in kickboxing, the ego remains fragile. “A friend of mine said no to a guy last weekend. It took security to get him out of the bar…”, says Léa.
“They say you have a boyfriend to have peace,” adds Sandrine. “Me, I’m bi, says Rozana, but I never kiss a girl outside, otherwise they want a threesome. We feel like fucking‘ objects ! »
Aïcha opines: “It’s worse for lesbians. »
I listened to these four young women tell me how they organize their outings to bars; it seems easier to go canoe-camping. It takes guy friends to keep predators at bay and girl friends to know how to react if they get high (boys downplay), never go to the bathroom alone, never leave their glasses unattended if they’re dancing, and be wary the bartender too (sometimes they are the ones who juicent » mojitos or sangria).
“Men have more respect for other men. There’s education to be done, ”says Rozana, who is now geolocated at all times by seven people, including her father. “It’s draining. Why is it up to me to educate you and protect ME? “While paying a pink tax…
Sandrine notices that the boys are on the defensive about this: “They argue. 90% of girls are affected. This is not a debate! It hits me. It’s a power trip and I believe it is directly linked to the loss of power of men in society. They feel attacked and take it personal. If you have the audacity to say that there are inequalities, they tell you that you are playing the victim. Janette Bertrand had always predicted a response from men to the emancipation of women. GHB is one. What they don’t get with consent, they will get by force.
Culture of inebriation
Sandrine Pelletier is in contact with MPs Manon Massé and Marwah Rizqy. Because, failing to change mentalities and boys, she turns to politics and awareness campaigns. Marwah Rizqy will do a pilot project in CEGEPs in her riding (Saint-Laurent) to offer free glass condoms at parties. A motion tabled by his colleague André Morin this week in the National Assembly was adopted unanimously to make GHB screening tests available free of charge in hospitals, CLSCs and pharmacies.
“There’s nothing worse than not knowing. We want to understand how it could have happened. These are medical tools in a critical situation, ”the fiery MP points out to me on the phone.
They check their drinks. They check on their friends. When do we check rape culture?
Sandrine is campaigning for bars to install surveillance cameras, offer coasters that detect GHB. “They invest in crazy sound systems, but never in our security. Instead, they take shooters with customers ! The bar where I go, the staff is drunk. They can’t help us. »
I recommend the movie The plunger if you doubted it. Is it too much to ask that employees stay sober in public services?
But these Band-Aids won’t heal the living wound, they know it. Girls have to educate their friends… while not trusting boys anymore: “Me, I’m afraid of men and I’m not the only one. I wish it was fully lesbian, ”balances Rozana. Léa always meets her tinder dates in a group: “You hope it goes well. Hope, protection and crossing your fingers. »
Bad time to exchange fluids. Bad weather to be twenty years old.