Only 29 percent of women ‘always’ feel safe at music festivals, according to an online survey of 500 Australians on their perceptions of safety and sexual violence at such events.
Crowded spaces, such as mosh pits, were most frequently identified as sites of sexual violence, as perpetrators were able to create a level of ambiguity and disappear into the crowd—making it difficult for someone to do anything about an incident.
Experiences like this can and do impact women’s ability to fully participate in music festivals; participants frequently noted how they change the way they dress, are less likely to inhabit crowded spaces, and are often hyper-vigilant because of their safety concerns.