FT investigation: Men only fundraiser and sexual harrassment

[RedToothBrush]

amp.ft.com/content/075d679e-0033-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5?__twitter_impression=true
Sexual misconduct allegations
Men Only: Inside the charity fundraiser where hostesses are put on show
FT investigation finds groping and sexual harassment at secretive black-tie dinner

It is for men only. A black tie evening, Thursday’s event was attended by 360 figures from British business, politics and finance and the entertainment included 130 specially hired hostesses.

All of the women were told to wear skimpy black outfits with matching underwear and high heels. At an after-party many hostesses — some of them students earning extra cash — were groped, sexually harassed and propositioned.

The event has been a mainstay of London’s social calendar for 33 years, yet the activities have remained largely unreported — unusual, perhaps, for a fundraiser of its scale.

Hats off to the FT for sending two undercover reporters

[Nickynackynoodle]

raisin you may want to read my post again. This is what the men in my workplace think about the place where I work. It’s fine to objectify women because they obviously want to objectify men just as much.

I’m fully aware these women weren’t strippers but if that’s the attitude of men who aren’t entitled millionaires... it’s fucking depressing.

[raisinsarenottheonlyfruit]

Nickynackynoodle I wasn't disagreeing with you - I was continuing thinking about the them of the women being strippers.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[QuentinSummers]

I think strippers wouldn't have done the event and the kind of prostitutes or escorts that fit the bill would be way too expensive. Also a bigger risk if they had hired sex workers and got found out.
Far better to hire young waitresses and pretend that the organisers didn't know what was going on.

[ADarkandStormyKnight]

That's exactly what I was thinking, Quentin.

[raisinsarenottheonlyfruit]

QuentinSummers yes exactly.

It shows they didn't care at all about the welfare of the women. Stripping may be seedy but at least the women know and have consented to the kind of gig they're doing and (usually) have the protection of bouncers and no-touching rules.

These young women were put in a very vulnetable position. The organisers didn't give a fuck about their safety or wellbeing.

[southeastdweller]

In this paywalled article from today's Times, Jonathan Ross says he hosted the event 10 or 12 years ago and "he saw nothing untoward". He also says “When we do this kind of job, you turn up, you speak briefly and you tend to come on stage, do your stuff and go home straight home afterwards. I really had very little to do with what was going on on the floor."

[raisinsarenottheonlyfruit]

AngryAttackKittens I suspect you're right

[CeeBeeBee]

Grim. It’s like the “Jezebel’s” episode from The Handmaid’s Tale.

[MaybeDoctor]

I read the FT article. I raised my eyebrows at the description of the outfits and my mouth literally fell open when I came to the word ‘paraded’.

The difficulties the women faced were:

Not seeing the costumes until they arrived.

Probably not picking up anything untoward in advance from the idea of clothing being provided, as that might be common for other corporate events that the agency covers.

Not being able to access phones or personal possessions during the evening if these were locked away. Could they have left if they had wanted to?

Alcohol being freely provided and lowering perceptions around safety.

I once did a google search for a service provider for distributing leaflets at a big event/conference venue. This quickly led to an agency that appeared to promote their staff in terms of looks/attractiveness rather than in their sales or promotional ability.

A friend who was an aspiring actress (very slim and striking) mentioned that ‘hostess’ jobs were often suggested/pushed by agencies. I think it can be hard for young women in this field to maintain boundaries around what they feel comfortable doing.

[HelenaDove]

Well catching up with The Last Leg was a mistake. Just listened to Rachel Johnson victim blaming the young women who did the hostess jobs at The Presidents Club. Adam Hills and David Tennant disagreed with her

Mail on Sunday column to come.

[BluePheasant]

Also noticed how Rachel Johnson seemed change her tack when she realised no one was on her side. Too bad she’d already made her true opinions loud and clear. Not that it was a suprise coming from her.

[HelenaDove]

Yep Right after she had exited the BB house when the theme was the Year of the Woman.

[GreenSeededGrape]

Yes I saw her on TLL and thought wtf. Very glad Adam called her on it but it felt rather awkward.

[HelenaDove]

Green i saw a tweet from an audience member and he said the atmosphere in the studio was awkward.

[GreenSeededGrape]

She did seem genuinely surprised that no one agreed with her.

[HelenaDove]

Richard Wilkinson
‏

@mrrwilkinson
20h20 hours ago
More
"Good to see Rachel Johnson getting a bit of a pasting on Twitter for her “performance” on #TheLastLeg Me and the missus were in the audience and there was definitely and awkwardness to some of the things she said."

[CeeBeeBee]

What did she say? Kudos to Adam Hill and David Tennant for calling her out.

[DeleteOrDecay]

She did seem genuinely surprised that no one agreed with her.

Good. The more this happens the more this sort of shit can be stamped out.

[BluePheasant]

There was definitely a bit of an awkward silence while she was talking and then a huge applause when Adam Hill said what everyone else was thinking. He and David Tennant were fab.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I thought this too, talk about victim blaming. She should be ashamed of herself.