“Every woman in our society feels the fear of rape – no woman is allowed to ignore it…..The threat of violence is a total intrusion into women’s personal space and transforms a routine and/or potential pleasurable activity (for example, a walk or journey)…..into a potentially upsetting, disturbing and often threatening experience.” Rape Crisis (England & Wales)

Support After Rape & Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL) does not believe that Leeds City Council (LCC) licensing sex establishments is compatible with the Equality Act 2010 and Violence Against Women Strategy, which LCC states that it has taken into account in developing this policy.

The Equality Act 2010 states that:

“A public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to…eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act.”

Research has shown that wherever lapdance and strip clubs appear, women’s quality of life deteriorates as a result, with increased reports of rape (Eden, 2003). These establishments licence the objectification of women so for LCC to licence such premises goes against the duty they have to implement equalities legislation. Licensing such clubs suggests LCC condones the sexual objectification of women for money going on inside them. This actively damages women and girls living and working around lapdancing clubs.

Such establishments contribute to the sexual objectification of women and raise concern about the welfare of women working in the clubs, the impact on the environment around the clubs; how women feel about walking around these areas and what happens to them when they do and to the general mainstreaming of the commercial sex industry.

While lapdancing and the illusion of sexual availability become mainstreamed, rape conviction rates are falling, street harassment and casual attacks are rising and 26% of people believe that an inappropriately dressed woman is ‘asking for it’ (Amnesty/ICM, 2005). The numbers of reported rapes around lapdancing clubs is three times the national average (Eden, 2003).

In 2003, Lilith published a small-scale report on lapdancing in Camden, Westminster and Islington. The report highlighted the extensive impact that lapdance and striptease clubs had upon women in the local area, in terms of immediate dangers such as a 50% increase in reported rape, but also in terms of less measurable effects, such as increased harassment and fear of violence. Harassment from men leaving the club or touts outside also increased significantly after the opening of a club. Venues offering adult entertainment involving nudity tend to increase perceptions of crime and potential risk, potentially seriously restricting the rights of women in the area to move about freely in safety.

At SARSVL, we deal with the reality of the effect of the sexual objectification of women and increased harassment and attack of them around these premises. Women in public areas become unwilling symbols of the illusion of sexual availability and are often the physical recipients of male harassment or rape. In the meantime young boys growing up in the area are taught that this is an acceptable way to treat women, and young women learn that this is the way they will be treated.

Advertising for these establishments, including signage and frontages of premises and leaflet distribution in the area, create an intimidating atmosphere and a real threat to the safety of women. No advertising should be allowed for such premises and explicit images displaying what goes on within the clubs should not be allowed. Advertising should not be allowed in public spaces.

If licensing is to take place, the welfare of women working within the clubs should be paramount. Licenses should require strict enforcement of protection of women from physical contact with customers. Private dance areas should be visible from the rest of the club and monitored by CCTV. Staff should know how they can complain about behaviour that is unacceptable and be given information on services that can support them, such as SARSVL.

Leeds city centre currently has a number of sex establishments in prominent locations, including the Headrow, which is a main thoroughfare. These premises and any additions to them advertise Leeds as a city (and a Council) that sees the sexual objectification of women as totally acceptable. It also makes the city centre an intimidating, unsafe place for women. It undermines the city’s stated aim of being “fair, open and welcoming” (Vision for Leeds 2011-2030).

Leeds is a city centre characterised by the close proximity of residential to commercial establishments; in fact it prides itself on this feature. For example, much student accommodation is located in the city centre. This increases the vulnerability of women walking around areas where a number of sex establishments are in operation.

Leeds is a diverse city with a variety of cultures and faiths, representing around 11% of the city. Women from a range of communities are intimidated by the proximity of these clubs and are less likely or willing to travel around the city at night when confronted by the operation of and advertising for sex establishments.

SARSVL is currently looking for premises in the city centre and has rejected one option because of its close proximity to a lapdancing club. We cannot expect women to run the gauntlet of the harassment and intimidation created by these clubs in an attempt to access or deliver our services.

References:

EDEN, I. 2003 The Lilith Report on Lapdancing and Striptease in the Borough of Camden. London: Eaves

EDEN, I. 2007 Inappropriate Behaviour: Adult venues and licensing in London