By Cheyenne Macdonald For Dailymail.com
Published: 00:00 BST, 17 May 2019 | Updated: 00:08 BST, 17 May 2019
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A troubling new study has highlighted the harmful stereotypes targeting women who drink alcohol, regardless of their actual behavior.
In a series of experiments involving nearly 400 participants, both men and women, researchers found that simply holding an alcoholic beverage is enough for people to view a woman in a negative light.
Women seen holding a beer bottle as opposed to a bottle of water were perceived as more intoxicated, 'less human,' and more 'sexually available.'
For men doing the same, however, this was not the case.
The researchers behind the study say the findings have 'troubling implications' for the perception and treatment of women in social settings, suggesting people may be less likely to intervene in situations where a woman may be at risk.
A troubling new study has highlighted the harmful stereotypes targeting women who drink alcohol, which they're often subjected to regardless of their actual behavior. Stock image
Victims of rape and sexual assault are less likely to report the incident to the police if they were drunk at the time, according to a recent study led by researchers from the University of Birmingham.
Scientists found that survivors of sexual assault are also more likely to blame themselves for the crime if they were intoxicated.
This self-blame, the researchers argue, is often the reason serious incidents of sexual assault and rape go unreported.
Study lead author Dr Heather Flowe said: 'It's concerning that women in the study were more likely to blame the hypothetical rape on their behaviour and character if they believed that they had consumed alcohol.
'Even more concerning is that the effects of alcohol on rape reporting in the real world might be even stronger than that found in the present research, given the intense levels of scrutiny that survivors are under in real world
