In today's society of equal rights, most would like to believe that a woman can go for a night out drinking not having to fear the consequence of verbal, physical or sexual aggression. Unfortunately, what you want to do is often far from the reality of what you are able to do safely.
A recent study by the Research Institute on Addictions has found that women between the ages of 18 and 19 have increased odds of experiencing aggression of either a verbal, physical or sexual nature when they had been binge drinking.
Kathleen A Parks, the senior research scientist in this study, explains that heavy drinking days constituted an average of four drinks.
"Two drinks is considered a normal day and seven drinks is a very heavy drinking day," Parks said.
Parks explained that under the influence of a large quantity of alcohol one is both cognitively and physically impaired.
"You are less able to resist physical advances and, when cognitively impaired, you are less likely to notice cues that would indicate someone who is likely to be aggressive," Parks said. "There is an increased likely hood that someone interested in perpetrating [some form of] sexual aggression will do so."
This cognitive and physical impairment is the main reason why women have an increased likelihood of experiencing some form of sexual aggression, whether it be unwanted touching in a sexual manner or more serious cases involving rape, Parks said.
Parks recommends women travel in groups - even to bathrooms - and that groups designate someone to stay sober, in addition to limiting alcohol intake. Women who consume less than four drinks are in a much better position to protect themselves.
"Hopefully [women] will see that if they're going to drink, do it in moderation and go out with a group of friends, people that you trust completely so you have more support," said Margaret Scott, a freshmen mechanical engineering major.
Parks was keen to stress that what she wanted young women to take from her study was not that she is trying to blame victims of sexual aggression of any form but that she wants to pass on knowledge that can provide empowerment.
"The victim is never to blame, it is an unfortunate fact of society but women are forced to make choices so that they are not putting themselves at a disadvantage," Parks said. "I am not condoning underage drinking but I am not naive enough to think that it doesn't happen. If you are going to make a choice to drink illegally, then drink in a way that doesn't put you at a greater risk."
Sherry Dedell, a sophomore exercise major, said that women should avoid going home with anyone they do not know because their judgment is often diminished when they've been drinking.
"[Young women] are an easy target when they are drunk, your judgment is off when you have been drinking," Dedell said. "Men tend to get more aggressive when they're drinking and they think it's okay to pinch or grab or pull you away from a group, which is not easy to fight off when you've been drinking."
Park said the most important thing women can learn from the study is that, as a woman, it's important to take certain precautions when drinking. While it is unfortunate that women have to be so conscious of their safety, Parks suggests that it is a necessary habit in today's society.
"Not all drinking is bad and not all drinking puts you at risk, but when you're intoxicated you lose something - you lose your ability to protect yourself," Parks said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
