The Christmas season is fast approaching, and with the festive lights comes the Christmas awareness posters. From Government slogans about rapes happening when victims have been drinking (ffs) to anti-rape posters asking us towear more, we’ve seen it all. But finally the campaign poster we've all been waiting for has arrived, just in time for the festive season.
Lincolnshire County Council have created a clever way to combat sexual violence and abuse. The poster urges young women on dates to go and ‘ask for Angela’ at the bar if their date isn’t going the way they planned. The posters have been put up in bars and social areas by the Lincolnshire Rape Crisis.
It reads: ‘Are you on a date that isn’t working out? Is the Tinder or POF (Plenty of Fish) date not who they said they were on their profile? Do you feel you’re not in a safe situation? Does it all feel a bit weird? If you go to the bar and ask for ‘Angela,’ the bar staff will know you need help getting out of your situation and will call you a taxi or help you out discreetly – without too much fuss.’
Hayley Child, the Substance Misuse and Sexual Violence & Abuse Strategy Coordinator for Lincolnshire County Council told The Independent: “The ‘Ask for Angela’ posters are part of our wider #NoMore campaign, which aims to promote a culture change in relation to sexual violence and abuse, promote services in Lincolnshire and empower victims to make a decision on whether to report incidents.'
Finally, we have a poster that not only helps young women recognise that it’s OK to feel uncomfortable when on a date with someone who might not be who they said they were, but offers to help them discreetly. Instead of being silenced or told to wear more, drink less - claps all round Lincolnshire County Council.
The poster has received a mix bag of reviews so far. Most have praised the campaign for being a discreet, clever way to combat what could turn into a dangerous date. Others, however, have been less complimentary.
It’s safe to say that message sleeping around does not make you a slag, and sometimes it’s impossible to say ‘no thanks,’ isn't really getting across here is it. Ladies, you do you. And men, this poster applies to you, so you also do you. And if you ever feel uncomfortable on a date in anyway, shape or form, ask for Angela.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.