Original article published on Teen Vogue (05/01/18) by Brittney McNamara
The Care2 organization has initiated a new petition to eliminate sexual harassment at music festivals, citing a toxic culture in need of an overhaul. Care2 has requested festival organizers set up a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and assault by drafting an appropriate plan, and the petition has so far collected more than 28,000 signatures, which is only about 2,000 signatures short of its goal. The petition refers to a study by Teen Vogue showcasing endemic harassment at California's Coachella festival. All 54 of the report's interviewees at Coachella had experienced some form of sexual harassment, while the report's author herself was groped nearly two dozen times during the interviews. "Any woman could tell you that if you go to a festival or concerts, there are issues like sexual misconduct, harassment and assault that happen," says Care2's Rebecca Gerber. "This doesn't have to be part of the female experience around going to a concert." In addition, an accompanying Teen Vogue survey estimated that 90 percent of female concertgoers had been harassed during an event. "From coast to coast, music festivals must ensure that they are safe spaces for all and that people know how to get help if they need it," the petition states.
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