Girls Night Out: Homosociality in University Hookup Culture

• In Event: 2242 - Let's Talk About Sex

Abstract

In this paper, I investigate how gender and heterosexuality shape undergraduate women experiences and participation in the “physical” spaces of hookup culture, such as nightclubs and house parties, at a mid-sized university in Canada. Through focus group discussions (N=21), I illustrate the shared practices, social norms, and potential risks for undergraduate women who participate in the university hookup scene, which are often articulated as homosocial “girls’ nights out.” Undergraduate women take on different roles during their nights out to seek enjoyment as a group while also helping to keep each other safe. I examine how gender beliefs and sexual norms shape undergraduate women’s discussions of the grey areas of harassment and negotiating sexual consent as they navigate these spaces.

Author

• Nicole Andrejek, McMaster University