‘Are you okay?’ campaign comes with a carnival hit

The public campaign ‘Are you okay?’ takes a positive approach. During carnival, you can really let yourself go for a while. Just as it should be. And as it usually is. The campaign calls on carnival-goers to work together to ensure that it stays that way.

Only if you both want it

Unwanted sexual behaviour still occurs far too often. “In the Netherlands, more than half of women and one in five men experience sexual acts against their will, ranging from kissing to sex,” explains Ton Coenen, director of Rutgers. “This also happens during nights out and carnival, where flirting plays a major role and boundaries become blurred.”

That is why Rutgers is calling on carnival-goers to ask the question ‘Are you okay?’ when they see that someone is feeling uncomfortable. “And we are asking carnival associations and party venues to support the campaign and put up the campaign poster. That way, we can ensure that everyone has an enjoyable carnival.”

Carnival hit

To reinforce the campaign, Rutgers has released its own playful carnival hit, ‘Are you okay?’. It offers a counterpoint to carnival hits that suggest carnival is a celebration where you can do whatever you want sexually, without taking each other’s wishes and boundaries into account. The song helps partygoers ask the question more easily: Are you okay? The chorus goes:

Are you okay?
Does it feel good for both of you
Is there room for a no too
Are you okay? Are you okay?
Are you sure, no objection
Check in with each other
Are you okay, then you can go all the way

The carnival hit ‘Are you okay?’ was written and performed by the Are you okay? Party Crew (consisting of Simon Timmerman and Ymke Kelders from Rutgers). The carnival hit can be listened to here.

Campaign

Carnival associations, pubs and party venues can spread the message by putting up posters and drawing attention to the campaign through (social) media and their websites. On Instagram and Snapchat, carnival-goers can use a photo filter to indicate that unwanted sexual behaviour is not okay and that they consider a safe carnival important.

The campaign’s message is neutral: Do you see unwanted sexual behaviour? Ask the person experiencing it: ‘Are you okay?’. The campaign website www.benjeoke.nl features videos showing how to discuss unwanted sexual behaviour when you see it. Since the campaign began in October 2018, more than 200 stages, clubs and festivals have already joined.