Misogyny and unwanted contact 'common' for DJ

A DJ has said she has frequently encountered misogyny and unwelcome physical contact while working.

Melissa Carver, known professionally as DJ Mel and based in Jersey, said she had experienced a variety of negative reactions due to her being a woman in her career.

She said some clients had called her and asked why she and "not the DJ" had responded, and other instances had seen her arrived at booked venues to be asked where the DJ was.

Carver said she had also been grabbed and pushed repeatedly in her nightclub career, which had sometimes left her feeling unsafe.

She said she had also had men interfere with her equipment while she was DJ-ing in nightclubs.

She said: "Recently, I've had grown men go behind my DJ booth and start going through my music and trying to take over.

"You wouldn't walk into a kitchen and take over a chef's job, so why should you walk behind a DJ booth and take over mine?"

Carver said she had also experienced unwanted physical contact during her nightclub career.

"I had people constantly grabbing me and pulling me," she said.

"I don't think anybody should do a job where they don't feel safe."

Despite those experiences, she said she still loves DJ-ing and would encourage more women to get involved.

She said: "If there's a young girl listening who wants to become a DJ, I'd absolutely say do it.

"Learn your craft, build your confidence, and you deserve to be known as 'a DJ', not a 'female DJ'."

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