Female DJs call out intimidation and sexual harassment

For Julie Dunne, the experience of being intimidated while performing eventually led her to stop DJing in bars.

She said an incident during a Christmas gig began when a man approached her to request a song she did not have.

“I was really polite to him and said, ‘Look, I apologise, I don’t have it on me’,” she said.

The man became aggressive and kept demanding her to play the song. When she apologised again he began screaming and swearing at her, calling her “pathetic” and terrible at her job.

“It got quite physical, he was up in my face and I was in tears.”

Dunne said the experience made her question whether she should continue to take bookings.

She believes the issue extends beyond DJs, with female photographers, lighting technicians, bar workers and other women working in nightlife also experiencing inappropriate behaviour.

Dunne said while both men and women can face disruption while working, the nature of the incidents women experience can be different.

“When it’s actual physical intimidation or sexual harassment, it’s not the same at all.”