Women not allowed to serve lunch at the Nuclear Security Summit in the Hague

[Newsjock]

Source: The Independent

Serving world leaders their lunch is a serious affair. No room for “blondes” or women in dresses then, it appears.

The Nuclear Security Summit is taking place in The Hague today and tomorrow, and has brought leaders from 53 countries together to discuss ways of combating nuclear terrorism. The catering company responsible for feeding the leaders and delegates has made a controversial staffing decision: No female serving staff are working in the plenary room where the main talks are being held. Instead, only men over 25 have been given the privilege of serving the working lunches at the World Forum. The decision has sparked outrage on social media in The Netherlands, but why was it made in the first place?

According to Dutch national newspaper the Algemeen Dagblad, the director of the catering company, Hans van der Linde, was looking to create a “uniform” look amongst his staff. They quote him justifying his decision in the following manner: “If 20 gentlemen are serving and three platinum blonde ladies, then that spoils the image."

... The news unleashed a Twitter storm, with critics calling the decision ‘un-Dutch’ and a violation of human rights.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/why-are-women-not-allowed-to-serve-lunch-at-the-nuclear-security-summit-in-the-hague-9213150.html

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Then, why not all platinum blondes?

[Newsjock]

3. I don't think his answer to that helped him much at all

In an attempt to clarify himself, van der Linde spoke to Radio 1 about keeping his female employees out of the plenary sessions. He denied ever mentioning hair colour, and told the station that he had initially come up with “the creative idea to only employ ladies to serve the world leaders, and to have them do that in little Delft Blue dresses.” His idea was apparently rejected by the ministry of Foreign Affairs, who made it clear that a more sober appearance would be appropriate. Van der Linde added: “We also have to go up a very steep flight of stairs, so little dresses wouldn’t be practical, as you wouldn’t be able to lift your legs high enough”.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. I should have read the article...

there was also something about Muslims and Dutch blondes distracting the delegates. Having spent a bit of time in Amsterdam, I can attest that Dutch blondes can indeed be distracting.

They could, however, wear pants.

[Brigid]

8. Were there cute Dutch blond guys in Amsterdam too?

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Oh, yeah. And tall, too.

[seabeyond]

11. so if he cannot sexualize and objectify the women he uses, he shows them by having men only?

ya. da man. kick his misogynist little ass.

[NM_Birder]

7. For the same reason there are no beer bellied men serving at Hooters.

"image"

[1000words]

2. LOL ... Twitter:

An virtual mob of melodrama just waiting to be unleashed.

[seabeyond]

12. yes 1000, cause there has not been a womans issue that is not about hysteria or melodrama, for you

[LanternWaste]

15. preceded by snarky prophecy hoping to be the catalyst for the unleashing...

More often than not, preceded by snarky prophecy hoping to be the catalyst for the unleashing, yet hoping to be mistaken as wit.

[freshwest]

5. Oh, my. The world's arbiter of what is justice can't handle that. Give 'em brown bag lunches, then.

Or better yet, let 'em go hungry like millions do because of the cost of their phallic symbols. No, I'm not gonna be nice. If I write more, it would be decidedly less nice.

[Javaman]

6. catering to stupidity. nt

[Jefferson23]

9. So they're serving up a big plate of stupid...what a great image that brings to mind. n/t

[Habibi]

13. "[T]he privilege of serving the working lunches"?

[kelliekat44]

14. "Human rights...?" nt