Hollyoaks and Gogglebox showcase vulnerability of women on nights out

ROC Angels has watched again the Gogglebox episode broadcast on Friday watching Hollyoaks. The Hollyoaks episode showed Maxine looking a bit worse for wear, escorted out of the pub and got separated from her friends and her phone.

Here are some of the Goggleboxers responses to Maxine's journey (some swearing):

‘She is drunk, on her own and really vulnerable really.’

‘Do you know what we’ve all been there haven’t we? Leaving a bar without your mates. Pissed, on your own.’

Maxine tries to get in a taxi, has no money but has at home. The taxi driver says he has heard that before and doesn't allow her in.

A girl lends her a phone but Maxine doesn’t know anybody’s number. They offer to share a taxi - 'the safest thing to do is stick together'. However Maxine goes the other way heading for a bus.

Some lads shout comments at her, one of the Goggleboxers said ‘I would be scared shitless if I was her’.

‘This is the part of a night out I cannot stand. The cat calling, people hitting on yer, laughing and joking in big groups. Been there, it is vile, it is not ok.’

‘Blokes don’t realise what that sort of behaviour does.’

‘It’s upsetting to watch Maxine walk home and she is terrified. More upsetting to know I know exactly how she is feeling because I have been in a similar position.’

Maxine gets the bus after a 12 minute longer walk to the bus stop. Some rowdy lads downstairs means she goes upstairs. A man sits directly behind her on the bus - ‘if you were Maxine that is so intimidating. Out of all the places he could have sat’

‘We’ve all been there, all of us’

Getting off the bus to walk home - she takes her shoes off and walks barefoot. 'The shoes could be a good weapon.'

On seeing someone behind her when walking Maxine takes the keys out of bag and puts them in her hand.

‘Always walk with keys and try and get one in between each knuckle’

As the man is attacking her one of the male Goggleboxers says ‘its got to be on TV as it is an important thing but it is a big uncomfortable watch this’.

Others comment:

‘That is literally my worse nightmare I would never want to go out again’

‘That is a lot of women’s reality that’ ‘of course it is’

‘On the flip side of this, what the fxxx are blokes doing?’

As Maxine arrives at the police station to report the crime ‘a lot of women would be sat at home and leave it too long’

Maxine says, ‘I should never have gone out dressed like that’

'She is blaming herself and that is what happens. They, she doesn’t need to blame herself.’

‘It doesn’t matter how you dress it is always put on the woman. We will wear what the fxxx we want. You control yourselves.’

‘It is not your fault.’ ‘The men have to change, it is nothing to do with how a woman looks. It is not all men, I would never do that. We should be talking to the people creating the trouble’

Some challenging comments and why Angels do what we do: to challenge behaviour; to support those who are or could become vulnerable; to help people have a safe and fun night out / festival experience; to be extra eyes and ears observing and looking out for others.

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