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

[EamonnWright]

I'm fine hun xxx

[AngryAttackKittens]

We're definitely laughing at you. Upsetting, isn't it? Poor baby, someone should give you a cup of hot milk and a teddy bear.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Maybe start your own thread for support if there are things you'd like to discuss that upset you.

[EamonnWright]

We're definitely laughing at you. Upsetting, isn't it? Poor baby, someone should give you a cup of hot milk and a teddy bear

You seem distressed. Sleep on it buttercup.

[EamonnWright]

All those rich people getting a hard time, I must throw my oar in and identify with this horrific injustice

No wonder feminists are mocked.

[AngryAttackKittens]

Happy as can be, love! Watching sexists have emotional meltdowns amuses me.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

These women working at this fundraiser weren't rich, Eamonn. You seem confused about what's going on.

[LuisCarol]

"Women can't even have a march without penis being the centre of attention."

Yes, that's a good point. Maybe not the one you meant to make, though, to be fair. But still, a good one.

[AngryAttackKittens]

Anyway, ignoring the mantrum and getting back on topic, this event sounds awful in fairly predictable ways. Naming and shaming is the way to go with stuff like this, and Zahawi in particular needs his feet held to the fire over this given his official role.

[EamonnWright]

Yes, that's a good point. Maybe not the one you meant to make, though, to be fair. But still, a good one

Oh it's exactly the point I wanted to make. Reason the Irish feminist letter was such a thing is that it's incomprehensible.

Seen the other day on here a parent said her wee girl and her mates had to change in the teachers cupboard because a boy was in their changing room.

There is zero chance that would happen to my daughter, or any other wee girl I know. Broke my heart reading it but the take away is that the Anglos are shit scared to protect their daughters.

Should be embarrassed and ashamed of yourselves.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

And the Labour peer. I'm sure there'll be other too. I'm very interested to see how these men are going to try and justify, minimize and excuse their involvement.

[AngryAttackKittens]

I wish people wouldn't focus on Walliams. Not that being there leaves him covered in glory either, but he's a comedian - it's the political classes who deserve to take the most heat over this, because they're the ones who in theory are supposed to represent the people. All of the people, not just the ones with cocks.

[thebewilderness]

Some people were there working while others were there to abuse the people who were there working. They need to be named.

[PocketCoffeeEspresso]

Eamonn - it would only be comparable if the people groping you at the bar were 6'5 drunk, horny, gay, professional, rugby players, with their lawyers - so you have the same power/money/size imbalance as these women.

When it's smaller, weaker, local women down the pub - whilst it's still unnacceptable, it's lacking the massive power imbalance these women experienced.

[Xenophile]

The other point is that, like business jollies to strip clubs, networking will have been done, deals cut, negotiations had, all the while excluding women colleagues.

[AngryAttackKittens]

And some of the women who were harassed and assaulted will later go on to the kind of corporate jobs where they'll work with men like the ones who harassed and assaulted them. I think we all know what lessons they'll be taking with them from this experience.

[RedToothBrush]

The non disclosure agreements are the clue about power imbalance.

[QuentinSummers]

I'm very angry about this. Anyone wants to know where the power lies in society, they can read this article.
The men think they have carte Blanche to treat women like hookers.
Fucking grim. I wish the FT had named the attendees.

[PocketCoffeeEspresso]

And I know people always say this sort of thing - but David Walliams has always set off my creep radar - I haven't got the kids his books, and tend to avoid watching stuff that he's in. (unlike Matt Lucas who seems alright, albeit someone who would prefer to be left alone rather than 'celebratised' - to coin a word)

[Thehairthebod]

Obviously this is horrible, especially as it was a fundraiser for GOSH?

But presumably many of the women knew the deal here? This is a yearly fundraiser where the same thing happens every year, surely lots of them would have heard how sleazy it is. And they were instructed to wear a skimpy black dress and matching underwear and heels?

I am not going to roll out the old trope that women are responsible for men's behaviour. But presumably none of these women were forced into this, no one was told 'if you don't work this fundraiser I will ensure that you never work again'? Women go into these 'hostess' jobs knowing the deal. It's totally wrong, but I think the 'naive woman' thing here isn't quite accurate.

Argh, I'm turning into Germaine Greer!

[RedToothBrush]

Sophie Walker @ sophierunning
Details from @FT Misogynists’ Ball story stuck in my head. Women having their phones taken off them, given wine before being paraded, being escorted out of the toilets if they were away too long. Some of them shaking in shock. At least some men there spoke up - Ah no. They didn’t

Lorna Leeson @ reallornaleeson
Why the f*ck would any decent bloke choose to attend this kind of event anyway? “You’re invited to a business dinner. No women. Well, just young, pretty ones who are paid to keep you entertained”. “Yep. Perfectly fine. Sign me up” said no good man ever.

Anyone able to disagree with this? Or offer a counter to it?

Anyone named as going is accountable. Even if they didn't take part.

Did the Dorchester's staff, really have no clue what was going on?

[AngryAttackKittens]

Did the Dorchester's staff, really have no clue what was going on?

Is the entire staff blind, deaf, and newly arrived on our planet? Because if not, I don't buy it.

[RedToothBrush]

Thehairthebod.

This para:
Another woman, 28, with experience of hostess work, observing the braying men around her said this was significantly different to previous black tie jobs. At other events, men occasionally would try to flirt with her, she said, but she had never felt uncomfortable or, indeed, frightened.

She reported being repeatedly fondled on her bottom, hips, stomach and legs. One guest lunged at her to kiss her. Another invited her upstairs to his room.

[QuentinSummers]

But presumably many of the women knew the deal here?
I don't think the new ones would be expected to be policed for spending too long in the toilet.
And even if they did know, does that make it OK that a bunch of rich men feel entitled to grope young pretty girls as "entertainment"? And that their employers will pay huge sums of money to enable them to do So?
I'm so fucking sick of all the focus being on women. These men are scum. Until their behaviour changes nothing will change. There will always be women whose want or need for money means they will put themselves forward for these kind of jobs. Doesn't mean that it's ok for men to behave like this.

[Thehairthebod]

OK that's fair enough. I was under the impression that all of these 'hostess' gigs were the same, or if they are not then being asked to wear matching underwear might ring alarm bells.

So this is an unusual thing then?