Female DJs call out 'blatant misogyny' and harassment in nightlife scene

Female DJs have described experiencing "blatant misogyny", harassment and intimidation while performing and said women are often treated as "guests" rather than professionals behind the decks.

Anna McAteer, Andrea Shearer and Julie Dunne have all spoken about experiences ranging from unwanted interference with equipment and inappropriate comments to physical intimidation.

They said the problem reflects wider attitudes towards women working in nightlife, rather than being the fault of the venues and promoters themselves.

Shearer said she had "never really seen it happen to a male colleague".

"I just still think that there's a bit of an attitude that women are somehow guests in the space rather than DJs that have earned their place there," she said.

"Whereas whenever it comes to a man in the booth, it's just not even a question."

She said women face a different level of scrutiny and unwanted attention simply because they were performing.

Shearer said she was subjected to online abuse earlier this year when a man from Belfast posted about her on Facebook, calling her a poor DJ and claiming that she only received gigs because she was a woman.

She said he also falsely claimed she performed sexual favours to obtain bookings.

"It's just insane to have someone kind of boil all of my hard work that I've done towards this down to who I've slept with," she said.

"And it's just blatant misogyny."

She also pointed to comments aimed at female DJs on social media, where discussions about their music can be overshadowed by comments about their appearance.

"It's 2026, grow up. She's doing her job."

McAteer, an up-and-coming Belfast DJ who has played at venues across Northern Ireland, including AVA Festival, said she had repeatedly experienced people entering the DJ booth or interfering with her set.

She said during one recent performance a man came up behind her and started rewinding one of the decks.

She described it as the fourth incident of its kind in about a year.

On another occasion she said a man had to be removed from the booth three times before returning and scrolling through the USB containing her music.

"He was just insisting that he's a DJ as well," she said.

McAteer said the behaviour also creates a safety issue.

"I've been quite lucky not to have too many physical encounters whenever I've been playing, but one did stand out to me."

She recalled an incident involving an older man who approached her while she was DJing and began asking explicit questions before touching her equipment.

McAteer said it is "very uncomfortable and it's just, in my opinion, not on".

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."

Despite their experiences, the DJs were keen to stress that they did not blame the venues or promoters involved.

McAteer said venues and staff had "always went above and beyond" when they became aware of an incident and continued to check on her whenever she returned to venues, even as a customer.

However, she believes "the real issue is the societal attitude towards DJing, towards female DJs".

She said people should understand that DJs are working and that entering a booth without permission can be intimidating and potentially dangerous.

"That man that invaded my stage should never have been there three or four more times," she said.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, said the industry takes a "zero-tolerance approach" to misogynistic, intimidating, threatening or inappropriate behaviour.

"Everyone has the right to enjoy a night out and to work in our sector without feeling unsafe, intimidated, or harassed."

Neill said hospitality businesses had an important role in creating safe environments and that Hospitality Ulster works with the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls team at Stormont.

He also highlighted the Ask for Angela initiative, which provides a discreet way for anyone who feels unsafe or uncomfortable in a venue to seek assistance from trained staff.