Rage rooms, venues where people pay to safely smash objects, are experiencing a surge in bookings, with women making up 90% of customers. The trend, which originated in Japan in 2008 and went global in 2015-2016, is seeing renewed growth. Virgin's Ultimate Xtreme Rage Room reports a 219% increase in bookings, while Weston-super-Mare's Activity Dome has seen a 150% surge.
Manager Tyler Austin of Activity Dome describes the rage room as "a very popular emotional outlet for ladies who want to relieve work, relationship and childcare stress." The rise coincides with increasing anger levels among women globally. BBC analysis of Gallup data showed women's anger rising over the past decade, with a 6% gender anger gap by 2021, partly due to the disproportionate caring burden during the pandemic.
Other factors include the rollback of reproductive rights in the US, the gender pay gap, and broader societal frustrations. Alternatives to rage rooms include scream clubs and quieter methods like underwater screaming or whacking a pile of coats with a wooden spoon, as suggested by Dr Jennifer Cox, author of a book on women's anger.
