6 ms·

I think you highlighted the main issue: it's not sexism, it's simply misplaced. Would it be 4 women and 4 men, it would still be out of context and not right.

by mackwic 11y ago

I think you highlighted the main issue: it's not sexism, it's simply misplaced. Would it be 4 women and 4 men, it would still be out of context and not right. I don't know if it's more jackass or more redneck, anyway it's not something that should be encouraged.

caminante 11y ago
It's tricky for corporates to host an uptempo afterparty. "Booth babes" demoing products are OK during the day, but if you dim the lights, perceptions change.
- robin_reala 11y ago
  They’re not OK. Why are they OK?
  - caminante 11y ago
    GDC -- the conference -- is NOT a Microsoft event. During the day, many exhibitors have "booth babes" running around exhibits and demo'ing games. [1] Were you not aware of that? [1] http://icanwritefunny.blogspot.com/2012/03/gdc-2012-booth-babes.html http://icanwritefunny.blogspot.com/2012/03/gdc-2012-booth-ba...
    - tptacek 11y ago
      "Booth babes" used to be a staple at every conference. Over the last 10 years, they've become sharply disfavored, because staffing your trade show booth with scantily-clad women with no connection to your company is a fucking creepy thing to do. People still do it, but by this time 5 years from now, everyone who does will be a pariah, trading on shock value. Those people/companies will always exist. Their existence isn't evidence that what they're doing is OK.
      - caminante 11y ago
        Oh, I wholeheartedly agree that they have "creepy" elements. That said, this sub-thread is more nuanced. This article wasn't written because of "booth babes" offending someone at a conference that Microsoft helped sponsor.
scott_s 11y ago
Misplaced sexualization very often is sexism. Sexism is more than singling out a particular person for their gender; it is also presenting an environment that is unwelcoming to those of a particular gender.

6 ms·

I think you highlighted the main issue: it's not sexism, it's simply misplaced. Would it be 4 women and 4 men, it would still be out of context and not right.

by mackwic 11y ago

caminante 11y ago
It's tricky for corporates to host an uptempo afterparty. "Booth babes" demoing products are OK during the day, but if you dim the lights, perceptions change.
- robin_reala 11y ago
  They’re not OK. Why are they OK?
  - caminante 11y ago
    GDC -- the conference -- is NOT a Microsoft event. During the day, many exhibitors have "booth babes" running around exhibits and demo'ing games. [1] Were you not aware of that? [1] http://icanwritefunny.blogspot.com/2012/03/gdc-2012-booth-babes.html http://icanwritefunny.blogspot.com/2012/03/gdc-2012-booth-ba...
    - tptacek 11y ago
      "Booth babes" used to be a staple at every conference. Over the last 10 years, they've become sharply disfavored, because staffing your trade show booth with scantily-clad women with no connection to your company is a fucking creepy thing to do. People still do it, but by this time 5 years from now, everyone who does will be a pariah, trading on shock value. Those people/companies will always exist. Their existence isn't evidence that what they're doing is OK.
      - caminante 11y ago
        Oh, I wholeheartedly agree that they have "creepy" elements. That said, this sub-thread is more nuanced. This article wasn't written because of "booth babes" offending someone at a conference that Microsoft helped sponsor.
scott_s 11y ago
Misplaced sexualization very often is sexism. Sexism is more than singling out a particular person for their gender; it is also presenting an environment that is unwelcoming to those of a particular gender.