General Discussion

lapislzi

(5,762 posts)

66. Booth babe speaking up

Fri Jan 13, 2012, 10:36 AM

Jan 2012

I'm no model, but I'm attractive and present well. My company's product is actually more oriented towards female buyers. However, the Big Players in the industry are mostly male.

Our company has a tacit policy of only sending attractive (read: non-obese, well-dressed, well-groomed) women to work the booth. Overweight women who might be part of the sales force, even if it's not their primary function in the company, are encouraged to lose weight.

I have had my ass pinched more times than I can count, and more than once been told that my "rack" is instrumental in sales.

I hate being on display for the gratuitous delectation of men. But, I like my job (when I'm not an object), and I sure as hell like my bonus at the end of the year.

A trade show--any trade show--is a tough place to be a feminist.

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Highlight:

CES 'Booth Babes': Women In Tech Oppose Using Models At Technology Trade Show [View all] redqueen Jan 2012 OP

I understand that "sex sells", but the buyers, increasingly, are WOMEN. PassingFair Jan 2012 #1

dirty little marketing secret for you SixthSense Jan 2012 #2

Women do NOT respond well to "booth babes". n/t PassingFair Jan 2012 #11

well no not that SixthSense Jan 2012 #13

If we are buying cosmetic products, then yes, we like to think we will look... PassingFair Jan 2012 #15

it works for non gender specific products SixthSense Jan 2012 #20

It also draws traffic to huffpo and bbc unc70 Jan 2012 #70

"Well Groomed" isn't the same as "Sexpot" obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #59

Tech is still vastly overwhelmingly male-dominated jeff47 Jan 2012 #3

oddy there is a high percentage of transwomen who are tech workers... Evasporque Jan 2012 #17

Until recently, women outnumbered men in our tech team justiceischeap Jan 2012 #21

+1 Matariki Jan 2012 #86

I don't understand that sex sells. I think it's bull****. redqueen Jan 2012 #5

There's a bullet missing from your list jeff47 Jan 2012 #8

True, and there was one man in that video that didn't like it either treestar Jan 2012 #28

That's exactly what I was thinking obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #60

Not to mention, it tells me that their tech is junk if they need skin to sell them arcane1 Jan 2012 #4

It appeals to insecurities and wishful thinking. redqueen Jan 2012 #6

Well said arcane1 Jan 2012 #9

See my post above unc70 Jan 2012 #72

See post 71. redqueen Jan 2012 #73

That is not what I said in my other post unc70 Jan 2012 #80

that was my point. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #35

Using Booth Babes at a Tech Show Is Distateful and Rude Yavin4 Jan 2012 #7

Is it any better at a car show? redqueen Jan 2012 #10

You do not want to visit a car show. Seriously. Zalatix Jan 2012 #16

Notice how there are no "babes" draping themselves over the cars at the actual dealership? PassingFair Jan 2012 #19

Hmmm... one has to wonder if they'd do it if they could get away with it... Zalatix Jan 2012 #27

Especially if the dealership owners could sexually harass them. PassingFair Jan 2012 #31

Coming soon to America if we elect one of those GOPigs Zalatix Jan 2012 #44

I went to a car show a few years ago XemaSab Jan 2012 #37

I used to go to car shows. redqueen Jan 2012 #74

Trade shows do this too Major Nikon Jan 2012 #56

Yes, it is that same mentality. redqueen Jan 2012 #75

It sends the wrong message about the business' stereotype of their customers too. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2012 #12

And just as with network news... redqueen Jan 2012 #14

I don't think it's so much that they think sexy women will sell the product justiceischeap Jan 2012 #24

OMG that's hysterical! Matariki Jan 2012 #87

They're not marketing to customers at CES jeff47 Jan 2012 #45

Let's contact those women and tell them they are victims, they aren't smart enough to make choices The Straight Story Jan 2012 #18

Booth babes piss me off because of the apparent stereotype the vendor holds of me. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2012 #22

All of those Booth Babes must have been molested .... oldhippie Jan 2012 #23

1 in 3 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime justiceischeap Jan 2012 #29

except, that widely qouted 'statistic' is well-known to be bogus. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #33

Okay, here ya go. I've been sexually assaulted and I don't appreciate you or oldhippie justiceischeap Jan 2012 #36

1) I think you're confusing me with the previous poster. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #38

Then by all means, prove me wrong with a statistic that isn't bogus justiceischeap Jan 2012 #39

rape and sexual assault should be taken very seriously. No question. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #41

I think the issue with that (drunken sex) justiceischeap Jan 2012 #43

Agree. If someone says no, or can't consent, obviously it's rape. My problem with some of the Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #53

So, shall I consult with you in advance before I make any comment ....... oldhippie Jan 2012 #40

No, you don't have to consult me but you don't have to be a jerk either justiceischeap Jan 2012 #42

Wow, aren't you a nice person filled with empathy obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #61

No, I am not a nice person filled with empathy .... oldhippie Jan 2012 #67

I imagine that with merely a small dash of both ... LanternWaste Jan 2012 #64

What a disgusting post. Matariki Jan 2012 #88

So many people missed the point .... oldhippie Jan 2012 #89

No one said they are victims treestar Jan 2012 #30

We may also discuss and re-examine... LanternWaste Jan 2012 #62

Being on the professional female side -- no, booth bunnies do not work for me mainer Jan 2012 #25

It's okay; fembots will soon be taking all of those jobs anyway. Fire Walk With Me Jan 2012 #26

At least they can't be outsourced! treestar Jan 2012 #32

it strikes me -and my wife, one of the tech professionals in question- as goofy Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #34

Yeah, but sometimes it's fun to ask them a tech question and watch 'em flounder. n/t gkhouston Jan 2012 #46

As a regular attendee of tech conferences... brooklynite Jan 2012 #47

a civilized society should REJECT marketing through female eye candy. alp227 Jan 2012 #48

Or maybe they have thought about it Major Nikon Jan 2012 #50

Exactly. redqueen Jan 2012 #58

Here's one of my favorites: DutchLiberal Jan 2012 #76

interesting... CES and AVN Adult Entertainment Expo were held concurrently at Sands until this year eShirl Jan 2012 #49

(it's a porn expo) eShirl Jan 2012 #52

I've been to CES and other large trade shows AnnieBW Jan 2012 #51

What if they also used male models in some of those booths for the lady techies to Cleita Jan 2012 #54

Fair is fair. Plus, there are lots of GLBT techies. They should have both genders, or neither. nt Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #57

when i am spending my money on something, i do not want an empty head seabeyond Jan 2012 #65

It's getting more and more popular to objectify men's bodies... redqueen Jan 2012 #77

So you're trying to protest these women out of a job? woolldog Jan 2012 #55

Ugh, using HUMAN BEINGS as ad props is disgusting. Odin2005 Jan 2012 #63

Booth babe speaking up lapislzi Jan 2012 #66

this thread, your post, takes me back. i worked for a major corporation seabeyond Jan 2012 #68

Well you like your job, redqueen Jan 2012 #69

We're an unusual company lapislzi Jan 2012 #81

I don't think you qualify as a booth babe mainer Jan 2012 #79

Ah. Understand the difference. lapislzi Jan 2012 #82

At CES, my hubby remembered the booth babes but not their products mainer Jan 2012 #71

Exactly. Attention does not translate to sales. redqueen Jan 2012 #78

I don't have a problem with it Canuckistanian Jan 2012 #83

LMFAO redqueen Jan 2012 #84

"Using women as decorations" Matariki Jan 2012 #85