CES 'Booth Babes': Women In Tech Oppose Using Models At Technology Trade Show

[redqueen]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/ces-booth-babes_n_1202320.html

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, better known as CES, is the world's largest consumer technology trade show and an important networking event for those in the field. But some women at the four-day event are concerned that the use of so-called "booth babes" -- models hired to promote products to CES attendees -- is sending the wrong message about women's relationship with technology and role in the tech industry.

The BBC interviewed CES attendees of both sexes about the models' role at the conference, including a few of the models. Watch above, and don't miss Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro's on-camera defense of this sales tactic.

video at link


Using women as decorations at the CES doesn't just send the wrong message about women's relationship with technology and the tech industry.

Any instance where women are used as decorations sends the wrong message about women's role in society.

[PassingFair]

1. I understand that "sex sells", but the buyers, increasingly, are WOMEN.

So why do they keep selling us "sex" that we don't want?



And WHAT IDIOT is responsible for the current Dr. Pepper ads?

Stupid AND sexist:

http://blogs.smartmoney.com/paydirt/2011/10/21/angry-women-is-not-what-dr-pepper-ordered/

[SixthSense]

2. dirty little marketing secret for you

while it's obvious that men are attracted to advertisement fronted by good-looking women

the little-known truth is that women also respond more favorably to the same

[PassingFair]

11. Women do NOT respond well to "booth babes". n/t

[SixthSense]

13. well no not that

but they do respond well to well-groomed women in advertising in general, more so than they respond to equivalent males

[PassingFair]

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

as beautiful as the models when we wear it.

[SixthSense]

20. it works for non gender specific products

Cars, restaurants, insurance... you'll notice way more use female models than male ones, targeted to both female and male audiences. Count men in Cosmo vs. women in GQ (or whatever the typical one-gender-only mags are these days, I lost track).

[unc70]

70. It also draws traffic to huffpo and bbc

Last edited Fri Jan 13, 2012, 03:34 PM - Edit history (1)

No irony that the pictures of the "babes" (a loaded word) are being used to drive traffic to huffpo and BBC? Are you offended by anything at Ariana's.

Women staff in trade show booths generate more traffic, longer visits, and usually generate more orders. Higher yields from men and women visitors. One model told me that outraged women who wanted to "rescue" her stayed in her booth so long they had more product exposure and had high conversion rates (percent who later bought something).

I have exhibited at about 200 shows over the years, mostly computers, software, communication, ... in the US and Europe. Our people staff our booths.

Our shows are smaller than CES and not packed as full. We dress professionally. Everyone knows products. Women have jobs from VP down. Mostly sales and technical, but also clerical/admin employees. We are a small company, try to include everyone when we can. Working a show or two a year can be fun, hard work, a nice change from the office. Doing 10-15 shows a year is more exhausting and less fun.

We try to have at least one woman on each booth team. Why? Eye contact. Woman seem welcoming, men threatening.

Attendees often walk near the middle of the aisles, scanning the booths asthey go. When they get close enough to make eye contact with booth staff, if the staff is all male, they are more likely to look away or down and less likely to cross the open space and enter ones booth.

When eye contact is made, any move by a male staffer is instinctively taken as a possible attack. I have seen attendees almost run away from booths. Eye contact with a smiling female staffer is inviting, makes men and women more likely to pause and look more closely, and a slight approach made then is likely to bring over ones booth.

There is a lot more going on, it varies by country, region, age, race, eye color, industry, ... It is what it is. We do jokingly call this "hooking" at the booth.

[obamanut2012]

59. "Well Groomed" isn't the same as "Sexpot"

Women also respond better to well-groomed doctors, wait staff, hair cutters, attorneys, etc.

[jeff47]

3. Tech is still vastly overwhelmingly male-dominated

So while there's more women "buyers", we're going from "almost none" to "tiny fraction".

AFAICT, it's not an active bias within the 'tech' industry. Appears to me to be cultural pressure for girls to not be geeks.

[Evasporque]

17. oddy there is a high percentage of transwomen who are tech workers...

what does that mean...?

I don't know.

Maybe there are lots of geeks that want to be girls...

[justiceischeap]

21. Until recently, women outnumbered men in our tech team

I've had debates about this (and written blog posts). There are so many women in the web field and yet when you go to a conference, there is usually only one (maybe two) token women as speakers. We are under represented in tech industries but it doesn't mean we aren't there. I'd agree that the majority of tech is male-dominated but there are more and more women going into the field.

BTW, I'm proud to be a geek and every other female geek I know is proud to be one too.

[Matariki]

86. +1

long time female web developer here.

[redqueen]

5. I don't understand that sex sells. I think it's bull****.

http://she-conomy.com/report/facts-on-women/

Marketing, PR, propaganda... call it whatever you want but we are being lied to by Wall Street.

They aren't giving the public what it wants. They are trying to convince us to fall for their marketing gimmicks. And it works.

[jeff47]

8. There's a bullet missing from your list

* None of the women in the previous statistics are attending CES.

[treestar]

28. True, and there was one man in that video that didn't like it either

What does tech stuff have to do with it? I'd rather see someone who looked business like.

[obamanut2012]

60. That's exactly what I was thinking

What would a "booth babe" instill product confidence?

My BIL is in a tech field and in management, and I asked him about this. He is, to use a stereotype, a real man's man. He said the "babes" make him feel very uncomfortable and he won't engage with them. He says he always thinks of his daughter.

I bet alot of men don't really like the use of babes, and probably none of the women do.

[arcane1]

4. Not to mention, it tells me that their tech is junk if they need skin to sell them

Violet Blue was reporting from CES earlier this week, and was none too kind with the concept either. I think some people assume the phrase "sex sells" somehow means that all purchasing decisions can be controlled by the simple means of a bikini top. I'm sure there are plenty of fools for whom this actually works, but I'm hoping it isn't many.

[redqueen]

6. It appeals to insecurities and wishful thinking.

It fuels markets for cosmetics, plastic surgery, baldness cures, and all manner of other useless BS. And it keeps the so-called 'battle of the sexes' going by reinforcing the rigid gender roles we've come to accept so unquestioningly.

[arcane1]

9. Well said

And it's rather insulting to both genders, when it comes down to it: women are stupid, just bodies to be adored, and men are stupid and will do anything if asked by a bikini-clad woman.

[unc70]

72. See my post above

[redqueen]

73. See post 71.

Sorry, but the Wall St. excuse for this crap won't stand anymore.

Even if it was true, just because someone says using bodies as props makes money does not make it right.

[unc70]

80. That is not what I said in my other post

I have never hired models or other temp staff. I have worked in booths of computer vendors where local temp staff (models) were too. While these were attractive young women, dressed well but business-like, they were also relatively competent technically - some did admin, some actors or speakers who gave short classes or demos over and over all day long.

The use of eye candy models gradually disappearing. Even the video at the link keeps showing the same few examples repeatedly. CES is huge, so how commonplace were booth babes?

Yes, consumer marketing is manipulative, the political consumer marketing of candidates as brands is among the worst. My journal archive should have my posts on Brand Obama which took targeted marketing of candidates far beyond anything done before.

The implications of widespread use going forward scares me. If each voter sees a "view" of a candidate specifically tailored for just them, maybe contradicted by what some else gets. Not just in mailings, etc., but what is found on the candidates web site, at news sites, from google searches, TV ads, and even from sites like DU without DU involved or even aware.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. that was my point.

they'd do better spending the $$$ making sure the first iteration of the product isn't bug-ridden, as it usually is.

[Yavin4]

7. Using Booth Babes at a Tech Show Is Distateful and Rude

One of our software vendors had booth babes during our niche tech convention. I thought that it was disrepectful.

[redqueen]

10. Is it any better at a car show?

If so, why?

[Zalatix]

16. You do not want to visit a car show. Seriously.

If booth babes bothers you then just... don't.

I avoid them for the same reason. I can find my dream car at the dealer's lot thankyouverymuch.

[PassingFair]

19. Notice how there are no "babes" draping themselves over the cars at the actual dealership?

If they are so instrumental in auto sales, why aren't they
splayed over the cars when you actually go to buy one?

[Zalatix]

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

[PassingFair]

31. Especially if the dealership owners could sexually harass them.

And then fire them if they don't "put out".

[Zalatix]

44. Coming soon to America if we elect one of those GOPigs

[XemaSab]

37. I went to a car show a few years ago

and there were no "booth babes."

[redqueen]

74. I used to go to car shows.

Some of them featured women as props but most didn't.

[Major Nikon]

56. Trade shows do this too

One of the reasons is because they typically bring their products to the show from out of town and need to hire local help to augment their traveling crew. Inevitably the local help knows shit from beans about the product anyway and their only real function is to hand out pamphlets and cheap promotional items and to draw people in. Their reasoning is if they hire local help that is easy on the eyes they will draw at least some people into the booth that they may not get otherwise. It's the same mentality that puts the girls with the biggest boobs out on the sidewalk with the sign every time there's a charity car wash.

[redqueen]

75. Yes, it is that same mentality.

That same fucked-up mentality.

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. It sends the wrong message about the business' stereotype of their customers too.

If your product won't sell unless a woman in a bikini stands in front of it, it's not worth buying, and the fact that you (the manufacturer) think I won't notice is an insult.

You see it a lot at boat shows too. When I see it I think less of both the vendor and the people who buy that product.

Then again, I have the same attitude about network news.

[redqueen]

14. And just as with network news...

they're not giving you what you want or need, but trying to push something on you.

[justiceischeap]

24. I don't think it's so much that they think sexy women will sell the product

I think they are implying sexy women sell a dream. If you buy this car or boat, you too can get yourself a sexy woman. I know not all men are shallow enough to believe that but some are.

Most of the sexism in advertising is about selling the idea you can either be as beautiful as the woman selling the product or if you use a product, you can have yourself a hot woman to go with it. Just look at the Old Spice ads as an example--they're poking fun of using sexy folks in advertising to sell the idea.

[Matariki]

87. OMG that's hysterical!

[jeff47]

45. They're not marketing to customers at CES

You can't get into CES as "joe public".

The show is for press and people seeking investors/distributors.

Ironically, CES is usually held on the same weekend as the Adult Entertainment Expo (the annual porn convention). Wouldn't surprise me to learn there's a certain amount of cross-over of "Staff".

[The Straight Story]

18. Let's contact those women and tell them they are victims, they aren't smart enough to make choices

Because if they were, they would the choices that were more approved of.

Those women, and their choice (well, it's not really a choice, they were forced), are hurting all women (and what is up with men wearing ties/tuxedo's?? They are just asking for people to look at them, and I sure don't want women looking at me any way other than pure business).

Do I think it is silly? Yeah. But I am not about to deny some women her choice or tell her I think she is problem for her choice.

But hey, just like Christians, etc, we gotta preach to people about their morality/sins so that they can see the one true way (and it is not the way they are enjoying, they just have not seen the light or been told the good news).

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. Booth babes piss me off because of the apparent stereotype the vendor holds of me.

If she wants to make a buck by strutting boobies... power to her, I guess.

A guy going to a strip club goes there for reason "A". A visitor to the Silicon Graphics booth at CES is there for reason "B". It's a little insulting to confuse the two.

[oldhippie]

23. All of those Booth Babes must have been molested ....

.. or raped or something in their past. No thinking women would ever consent to such employment if her psyche wasn't damaged by some evil male. They are all victims and are obviously not capable of deciding for themselves. There oughta' be a law .....

[justiceischeap]

29. 1 in 3 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime

So it's likely some of those 'booth babes' have either been sexually assaulted or raped. It's not really to joke about this. Think about 3 women you know in real life and then think about that statistic and if your attempt at sarcasm is necessary.

http://www.turningpointservices.org/Sexual%20Assault%20-%20Statistics.htm

[Warren DeMontague]

33. except, that widely qouted 'statistic' is well-known to be bogus.

it's 1 in 3, now? Last time it was 1 in 4. Are we still counting every woman who had sex after drinking alcohol as being 'raped'?

Why not go whole hog, and just admit the Dworkin/Mackinnon line that it's ALL rape.

Oh, yeah, don't let me misrepresent the intent of that axiom: Of course, they qualified it by saying it's 'only' rape if it involves an erect penis or is done 'under patriarchy', which basically means 'on planet earth'.

[justiceischeap]

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

using it as a punchline on a discussion board. You got a problem with someone talking about 'booth babes' then how about having a discussion without making light of my having been sexually assaulted and how that might effect my point of view. I've also been mugged at gun point and I don't think it would be any more amusing to make light of that because you don't want to hear about it.

If you're tired of this kind of thread, then trash it but making sarcastic comments or joking about this shit isn't funny.

And I believe that statistic takes into account women from the time they are born up into adulthood. Notice that it says 1 in 3 (I found another statistic that is 1 in 4) will be sexually assaulted in her LIFETIME.

Sexual assault doesn't automatically mean rape. I was touched, repeatedly and inappropriately by a male relative (he has continued this behavior and has done time for it) as a child. That's sexual assault. I was touched inappropriately by a male stranger as a child, that's sexual assault. Would you like me to detail how I was sexually assaulted as a 6-year-old or a ten-year old or an eleven-year old? I'm not even counting the 30 year old I was dating as a 17 year old.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. 1) I think you're confusing me with the previous poster.

2) I'm sorry whatever happened to you happened to you- really, I am- but that doesn't mean the statistic you quoted isn't bogus.

[justiceischeap]

39. Then by all means, prove me wrong with a statistic that isn't bogus

Is the true statistic 1 in 10? 1 in 20? Does that mean it's okay to be sarcastic about rape (and you were being sarcastic about rape) because the number may be higher? I searched and searched for statistics to use in this discussion and my OP about this and these numbers were consistent, so either all studies are using faulty data or they're valid.

http://www2.rwu.edu/studentlife/studentservices/counselingcenter/sexualassault/rapemyths.htm
http://www.oneinfourusa.org/statistics.php
http://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/

And thanks for saying you're sorry about what happened, I appreciate that (it's more than my parents have said) but had you not been sarcastic in your reply instead of pointing out resources that show the statistics are bogus, I wouldn't have replied to you.

[Warren DeMontague]

41. rape and sexual assault should be taken very seriously. No question.

I'm of the opinion that the number doesn't matter that much- one is too many.

But we do the victims of real assault and rape- such as yourself- a disservice when we let people with an agenda try to argue that any sex had by drunk people (which is a lot of sex) is inherently "rape".

[justiceischeap]

43. I think the issue with that (drunken sex)

is a very fragile line to walk because I believe there are women (and I'll concede men) that are too drunk to give consent. Far be it for me to tell anyone how to have sex or when but if you're too drunk to drive then you're probably in a position where you (as a man) could be charged with assault or rape and a woman could regret her actions. I think responsibility is a big issue too. I think I've had drunk sex once in my life and that was enough for me because it just wasn't fun and who wants to do something that isn't fun?

I'm sure I'm going to piss people off with this statement but on some level I agree with you. I've seen young women go out and get trashed and come on to guys and leave with them and I find myself wondering if there will be allegations in the morning and if that's fair but I also know that if a drunk woman leaves with a man and then passes out before she's naked, even if she agreed to sex before passing out, and he goes ahead and has sex... that's rape. If she has too much to drink, says yes and goes back with him and then decides she doesn't want to have sex and he goes ahead, that's rape. If she drinks too much, goes and has sex and then regrets it in the morning... it may very well be rape according to the law but he had her consent and if she didn't say no, unless he's aware of her blood alcohol level, there's the fine line.

[Warren DeMontague]

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

statistical studies, as I've understood the criticisms of them, is that they're including everyone who had sex while inebriated and then later regretted it, or even anyone who had any sex after drinking any alcohol whatsoever.

It's not really a personal issue for me, anymore, since I stopped drinking a long time ago, am married, and if my wife has a glass of wine she generally falls right asleep... she had 2 bloody marys for her birthday last year and I literally couldn't get her off the couch to get herself up to bed. So drunk sex isn't really on the menu anymore. But, say, when I was a college student? Did I have sex with anyone that I might not have had sex with, if I hadn't been drinking? Uh, absolutely. That's not "I was too drunk to say yes", but rather "I might not have said yes to you if I hadn't been a little shitfaced"

One can debate the merits of such activities until the sun comes up, but I do think it's a stretch to call that, in particular, "rape" or "assault". I wouldn't say I was raped.

[oldhippie]

40. So, shall I consult with you in advance before I make any comment .......

.... to make sure it doesn't impinge on your precious, fragile little psyche? Are you one of those that lets every negative experience incapacitate you? Do you have any other subjects about which we should consult you before taking a chance of disturbing some unpleasant memory? And you know what? You having been sexually assaulted or mugged at gunpoint isn't going to affect my thinking or my comments even one little iota. Bad things happen to everyone. There are 300 million peopl just in this country. Do we just shut down our thinking and our comments (or sarcasm) because one person on a forum may be upset about it? Sheeeeshhh, get over it.

I can't believe how this forum has been taken over by the ERFs the last few days.

[justiceischeap]

42. No, you don't have to consult me but you don't have to be a jerk either

You can actually put some thought into what you say and think how the words you string together may effect people. If people were kinder to one another, this might just be a better world. And I'd guess you're one of the reasons the ERFs have taken over, but guess what, I'm not one of them.

[obamanut2012]

61. Wow, aren't you a nice person filled with empathy

Not.

What a way to belittle someone else's experience.

ERF=Equal Rights Feminists. Two questions about this.

1. Why is that a BAD thing? Believing in equal rights? Lots of men are also ERFs, as you so nicely put it.

2. What the hell does being an ERF have to do with rightly calling you on making sexual assault a damned punchline? Men don't make jokes about this, because they know at least one women in their family has had unwanted sexual contact, and very possibly they themselves have. So har har har.

[oldhippie]

67. No, I am not a nice person filled with empathy ....

Empathy has never been one of my strong traits. People have to deal with it.

ERF= Extreme Radical Feminist.

I did not make sexual assault a punchline. I was sarcastically echoing another ERF poster who contends that women who have been abused and assaulted are too traumatized to ever really give consent to any behavior of which she doesn't approve.

[LanternWaste]

64. I imagine that with merely a small dash of both ...

"So, shall I consult with you in advance before I make any comment to make sure it doesn't impinge on your precious, fragile little psyche? "

I imagine that with merely a small dash of both common sense and decency, one would know what is or is not vulgar and potentially insulting to people without consulting them.

Once we begin practicing that, it becomes a habit, and before we know it, we've internalized it and we appear as a decent, tolerant and respectful people to the outside world.

And, as an added bonus, it is not predicated on "shutting down your thinking", rather, it expands it. Sounds like a win-win to me.... but I imagine someone will rationalize their vulgarity and ugliness to others and assume the role of the martyr should anyone point that vulgarity out to them.

[Matariki]

88. What a disgusting post.

It's insulting and does NOTHING to further the conversation.

Perhaps you'd like to share aspects of culture that are biased against you? Are you really an old hippy? Maybe we should make fun of age and it's accompanying infirmities?

You should learn some civility.

[oldhippie]

89. So many people missed the point ....

I knew I should have used the sarcasm smiley. I was sarcastically echoing another poster (an Extreme Radical Feminist) that said that women who had previously been molested or assaulted were not capable of informed consent regarding matters of which she did not approve. She said they were too traumatized by their experience to really be able to make decisions about sexuality or morality. At least to her satisfaction.

And yes, I am old, and I was a hippie. And I have no problems with aspects of culture that are biased against me. I can deal with it. Make fun of age and it's infirmities all you want. I may even find it entertaining. I think that's pretty civil.

[treestar]

30. No one said they are victims

Though women seem to need a union. That last female was such an airhead - her "choice" was based on the fact that she's too dumb to do IT work - you could see that plain and simple.

[LanternWaste]

62. We may also discuss and re-examine...

"we gotta preach to people about their morality/sins so that they can see the one true way..."

We may also discuss and re-examine ourselves, our world-views, and our opinions and biases amongst our political peers on a message board....

unless it's contrary to your opinions and worldviews, and then I suppose it becomes simply "preach to people about their morality/sins..."

[mainer]

25. Being on the professional female side -- no, booth bunnies do not work for me

I've been to CES and although I found the booth bunnies amusing, nothing beats having a booth manned by respectful professionals who take the time to treat me as a professional woman with the wherewithal to make multi-million dollar decisions in their favor.

[Fire Walk With Me]

26. It's okay; fembots will soon be taking all of those jobs anyway.

[treestar]

32. At least they can't be outsourced!

And hopefully would not qualify for H-1Bs.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. it strikes me -and my wife, one of the tech professionals in question- as goofy

but not a reason (another reason?) for another mondo-sized outrage fest.

Maybe a bad sign for those tech companies. If the stuff they're making is really that cool, it should promote itself. Using "booth babes" (or booth dudes, if they so choose) reeks of a cheesy used car salesman going "look, over here!"

[gkhouston]

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

[brooklynite]

47. As a regular attendee of tech conferences...

I've noticed the prevalence of "booth babes" has ebbed and flowed. I presume the change comes from determinations about what does and DOES NOT sell the product in question (personally, a booth babe who is nothing but window dressing and doesn't know anything about the product is a waste of my attention). Exhibitor budgets have been getting cut back for years; no firm, tech or others, is going to spend marketing dollars on something that doesn't work.

[alp227]

48. a civilized society should REJECT marketing through female eye candy.

it may not be illegal but it is fucking ANTIQUATED. boycott such products marketed that way. I find it amazing how people who defend this practice in the name of hating "political correctness" never take the time to think about this issue.

[Major Nikon]

50. Or maybe they have thought about it

If you don't want to patronize businesses that use these tactics, go right ahead. I'm sure plenty do. But the vast majority don't because they don't see it as an issue worth getting worked up about. Some of those who have put some thought into it have rejected the radical feminist "theory" that somehow these images are destroying the fabric of society. You may find such advertising insulting to reason, and you may even be right, but if you want to make an ethical case against it, good luck. Most advertising appeals to emotion at some level, so why should one emotion be exempt?

[redqueen]

58. Exactly.

The days when forward thinking people accepted this kind of idiocy as pointless to confront are over.

[DutchLiberal]

76. Here's one of my favorites:

[eShirl]

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVN_Adult_Entertainment_Expo

"Until 2012, the AEE was usually held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center running concurrent with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), although there is no connection between the two. The 2012 Expo is planned to be held at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on January 18–21, one week after the 2012 CES.[3] "

[eShirl]

52. (it's a porn expo)

[AnnieBW]

51. I've been to CES and other large trade shows

I'm a woman in a technical field. I've been to CES, CTIA, and other large tech shows. IMHO, CES was the WORST for "booth babes". There's a lot of pretty girls in Las Vegas that get hired out for generic "booth babes" to lure the stupid guys in to their booths. Goddess only knows what other services they provide. Ask them something technical, and they look like a deer in the headlights. I feel sorry for them, because they have a good body and nothing upstairs.

One good thing that I have to say about tech shows - there's no lines in the womens' rooms! Just me and the booth babes.

[Cleita]

54. What if they also used male models in some of those booths for the lady techies to

enjoy as decoration. It works for me.

[Warren DeMontague]

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

[seabeyond]

65. when i am spending my money on something, i do not want an empty head

i want someone who knows what they are talking about. their looks are irrelevant.

companies screw and manipulate us enough. if/when i run into a company that thinks i am so shallow and pliable as to use a brainless person to sell me something, i have a pretty good clue the company does not respect me. i am not going ot hand my money to a company that thinks so little about their customer.

[redqueen]

77. It's getting more and more popular to objectify men's bodies...

it's still 500% more often done to women than men, but that is changing.

And (surprise surprise) we're seeing more eating disorders in men and boys.

Hurray! Progress!

[woolldog]

55. So you're trying to protest these women out of a job?

In these tough economic times? Shame on you.

[Odin2005]

63. Ugh, using HUMAN BEINGS as ad props is disgusting.

[lapislzi]

66. Booth babe speaking up

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.

[seabeyond]

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

i was always invited to the VIP cocktail parties, special events and working booths. hey... you want to do this. or hey.... i would like you to do this.

i was clueless. lol.

i worked in accounting. i didnt know anything about the company sales. i always had someone who knew the job. people would ask me questions, i would defer to the other person. male oriented corp, so of course a man

all this time, i thought it was cause i had connections in company and that was why got i special invitations, lol

[redqueen]

69. Well you like your job,

so I hope I'm right in reading that to mean that the vast majority of the time, the objectification issues aren't much of an issue while you're at work.

[lapislzi]

81. We're an unusual company

I run a tight department and I won't tolerate bigoted remarks. On the other hand, we all swear like sailors when things go wrong. Under the correct conditions, we are the most politically incorrect bunch of assholes you are likely to come across. And several of my co-workers are DUers and likely reading this post. With one exception, everyone in this company votes Democratic.

But, we know how things work, even if we don't agree with them. I am not surprised that management (self included) would prefer to stock the booth with pleasant-looking people. That being said, I will not send a staffer whom I don't feel is competent to actually do the job of, you know, selling. With their heads.

The true sexist pig who used to work here resigned years ago. We all cringe when we see him loping towards us at trade shows.

[mainer]

79. I don't think you qualify as a booth babe

because you're actually there as a sales representative who can present the product, not merely as decoration. The true definition of a booth babe is someone there solely to attract, without enough working knowledge to answer questions.

There's a difference between an attractive sales rep, and a dolly who's hired just to look good. Booth babes are usually not company employees, but outside hires who are brought in just for the convention.

[lapislzi]

82. Ah. Understand the difference.

My husband, who is admittedly biased, likes to call me a booth babe. It's the first time I'd heard the term.

Yes, in between ass pinches, I have been known to write an order or two, or walk a rep group through the line. I do know my product.

[mainer]

71. At CES, my hubby remembered the booth babes but not their products

So yes, booth babes do attract male attention. The problem is, the men are so focused on the babes that they can't recall which product they're selling. He said later that the new tech products he really got into were the ones that had no distracting women in miniskirts.

This is key for any company trying to sell its products. Yes, maybe you'll catch the eye of male customers. But later, those customers won't have any memory of your product, only the babes.

[redqueen]

78. Exactly. Attention does not translate to sales.

However the insecurity (I need to look like that) and wishful thinking (if I buy this I will get that prop for myself) fuels entire industries.

[Canuckistanian]

83. I don't have a problem with it

As long as each and every one of them have an engineering degree.

[redqueen]

84. LMFAO

[Matariki]

85. "Using women as decorations"

That says it all really.