Debate: Victim-blaming women - from Hollywood to Dubai

Women who are victims of abuse are often blamed for "attracting" harm because of how they dress or behave. In some cultures, simply being alone with a man who abuses her can make a woman guilty of "seducing" him. Mens' abusive reactions are thereby justified and women bear the punishment, whether social or legal

We'll discuss...
1. The perception of abuse across different cultures, e.g. West and non-Western countries.
2. Should women adjust how they dress and behave only to avoid harm?
3. How to spark change, in both the West and non-Western countries?

IMPORTANT: we meet at a public cafe' and the cafe's staff is not involved with us. To find us, please go straight to the orange seating area near the long wall with many photos OR check our comments below for more help!

KEY INFO
Time: 7pm for socializing. 7:30pm for the actual debate. We'll start once most people and the moderator arrive. The debate then lasts about 60-90 minutes, and there's some mingling after the debate, too.
Venue: Curzon Aldgate (cafe/bar area), 2 Canter Way, E1 8PS
Closest stations: Aldgate East, Aldgate, Tower Hill/Gateway
Cost: Pay for your own meals or drinks. Tea, milkshakes, drinks, pizza, hotdogs and nibbles (incl plant-based options) are available at the bar.
Hosts: We have a rotating team and the actual host of each event varies. Our regular members can also help you out with basic matters.

HOW TO FIND US
We usually pick the row of orange chairs next to the long wall with many photos. Please wait there until you notice a growing group of people or one of us spots you + check the comments below for any instructions. Please DON'T ask the cinema bar staff for us.

DEBATE FORMAT
We may adjust depending on the turnout of the evening, but it's usually a table group discussion with turns, styled after Model United Nations (MUN) debates. Typically:
- Introductions and initial thoughts (~15 mins).
- Group breakouts per question (~25 mins per question).
- Final round of opinions (~20 mins).

EVENT ETIQUETTE
(Rules & expectations)
- Debate the topic, not the participants - no personal attacks!
- No phones, no interrupting, no bystanding
- Always follow the moderator/host instructions and guidelines

WHAT IS WORLD CITIZENS?
We're one of London's longest-running and largest communities. Since 2012 we run socials, cultural activities and stimulating discussions to foster meaningful exchange and learning among London's global professionals.

NOTE: like most guests, our volunteer hosts also attend after work and may happen to arrive after the start time. If you are punctual or earlier than our hosts, we highly appreciate this! Please feel free to start socializing already and/or get something to eat or drink - that’s the point of our events anyway. Our regular members can also help you out with any basic matters.

*Our other weekly events*
- Tuesday and Friday evening socials every week
- Saturday afternoon cafe in Chelsea
- Outdoor fun (hiking, kayaking, etc) every Sunday
- Pub quiz or Canary Wharf evening alternating on Wednesdays
- Dining, cultural and travel activities on-demand

JOIN OUR TEAM!
We're all volunteers, so if you enjoy organizing activities or events in your spare time, while meeting great people every week, send a message to our team account "TP"!

DISCLAIMER
We are a 100% volunteer-run team. Despite careful planning and structure this is a private informal activity, so we cannot be liable for any damage or inconvenience. However, we put safety and comfort first. We take all complaints seriously, and take severe action against any form of harassment, verbal or non-verbal, and anti-social behaviour. We collaborate with the police if needed. We take photos and videos which may include you to help promote the community in line with GDPR Data Protection law. We may restrict or prioritize guests at our own discretion for safety, quality and logistics reasons. While our admin decisions may not always be perfect we ask that you follow our decisions first and raise any disputes to discuss with us later and privately. By attending you understand, agree with and respect all terms of this disclaimer.
Image credit: Pexels/Unsplash