It’s Friday night, and it’s been a long week. Maybe you had three essays due or worked 30 hours? Either way you’re ready to let loose and have some fun. For some people it means laying in bed with their roommate and watching “Orange is the New Black”; for others it means hitting the bars with their friends. One beer turns into ten shots, and soon enough you’re wasted. Lucky for you, your friends hold back your hair and make sure you get home safe; but what about the girl who doesn’t have anyone?
A couple weeks ago, I was at a party with my friends and we noticed a girl off in the corner; she didn’t look good. We went up to her and asked if she needed any help. She started crying and shaking because she couldn’t find her friends. We took her outside and I noticed she was trying to call someone. I took her phone, and start calling the people who were texting her. We finally find her friends, and they get her home safely. Although that girl had people with her, not everybody is that lucky.
There have been countless stories about both guys and girls being taken advantage of because they were under the influence. One story in particular really got to me. Two Vanderbilt football players were charged with raping an unconscious young woman; graphic video proof was released, and I was disgusted at how many people witnessed what happened and didn’t do anything to help. According to the NIH, one in every five girls will be sexually assaulted during their time in college; half of those assaults will involve alcohol. This is absolutely horrifying, and completely avoidable.
When a girl is alone and intoxicated, that makes her vulnerable for attack. I feel that it is our job as women to protect each other, especially if one of us isn’t in the right frame of mind. I understand that it can be really difficult to get involved. We feel like it isn’t our business or we think someone else is already helping her. According to the Bystander Effect, the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress. Don’t assume that everything is fine, because chances are they’re not.
Next time you’re at a party, don't hesitate to ask the drunk girl if she's ok. Sure, she may just stare at you and run back to her friends singing (screaming) “Back to Back”. If that happens, well at least you did your good deed for the night. However, if you get the feeling that something’s wrong, do what you can to help. Imagine if that drunk girl was your best friend, your little sister, or even yourself. Asking someone if they’re ok only takes a minute, but your decision can have a lasting effect.
