The results are shocking: three out of four waitresses are harassed at Oktoberfest.
A 44-year-old company boss was arrested at Oktoberfest after grabbing the buttocks of an 18-year-old visitor. The young woman responded immediately and alerted the police, after which the man was taken to the Wiesnwache. He had to pay a bail of 20,000 euros – an amount that he will only get back if he is acquitted.
But the incident is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of sexual assaults at Munich’s Oktoberfest is increasing. New research shows that three in four waitresses are now regularly harassed. 76 percent of waitresses say that they have been victims of sexual violence during their work. The research was conducted by scientist Maren Schulze-Velmede, who worked for a long time at the largest folk festival in the world. She received the 2024 Volker Letzner Science Prize for her research work.
Despite the alarming figures, few women report the attacks. Instead, many develop their own strategies to deal with the attacks. “Groups of men in particular often lose all inhibitions,” warns Schulze-Velmede. Wiesn presenter Christian Schottenhamel explains that the staff is made aware and that incidents are taken seriously. But the reality is: many victims, especially visitors, remain silent out of shame or fear of the consequences.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
