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“[It’s] basically objectifying and sexualising these women in these videos, and what that does, it’s creating this community of misogynistic men who basically have the ideology that a woman will get harassed, and it’s her fault because of what she’s wearing. When in reality, it’s never anyone’s fault because of what they’re wearing,” she argued.
The videos have gained even more attention in the last few days, with a tweet going viral on X, currently on 37.6m views. Ian Miles Cheong posted it with the caption, “Manchester nightlife. Why do so many young women do this to themselves?” A lot of people, myself included, were confused with this framing and considered it sexist. What exactly is it that these women are doing to themselves? Having fun? Wearing makeup? Getting dressed up?
“It’s plain to see that these videos exist to sexualise young girls while humiliating and mocking them.”
Carol Vorderman replied to the tweet echoing this sentiment, saying: “What? Dress up as they wish and have a great night out being independent. Why do so many midlife men practise misogynistic attacks against women they don’t know? Could it be they feel threatened?”
The videos themselves are voyeuristic and creepy, but it’s the reactions to them that I find even more troubling. After sifting through thousands of comments, I was struck by how many were misogynistic. A large majority shame the women, asking “how much” and talking about red light districts. One user commented, “How much do they cost?” – it had over 500 likes. This is layered; not only is it clear these men dehumanise sex workers, but they also assume women who wear short clothing are sex workers and see that as an open invitation to objectify them.
The pretence that these videos show nightlife is part of the reason I think these videos have been allowed to exist and stay platformed, since the person behind them edits and films in an almost documentary style. These videos are not educational, and this user is not journalistic – if they were, where are all the men? Do men not also go out in Manchester? Are men not a huge part of nightlife, too? No, it’s plain to see that these videos exist to sexualise young girls while humiliating and mocking them. For what? Simply existing, having fun and slaying.
Young girls and women do not exist for the entertainment of men. We do not go on nights out to be consumed as content. The idea that women wear certain clothing or go to bars for attention from men is an outdated, insidious and pervasive falsity that society perpetuates.
GLAMOUR has contacted Walking in China for comment.
For more from Freelance Journalist Chloe Laws, follow her @chloegracelaws.
