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

[SweetGrapes]

So the girls were supposed to assume/know what they were getting into BUT NAMALT. So which one is it? We assume all men are dodgy fucking creeps or go in smiling because NAMALT but then face the same creepy fuckers because Not One Man Spoke Up In Time!!
NOMSUIT anyone?

[irretating]

And that the things described (groping) were not a crime.

Whaaat? Yes it is a bloody crime to grope somebody without their consent.

[irretating]

Is there a name and shame list for the men who were attendees?

[squishysquirmy]

Airheads?
Where the fuck is the evidence for that?

If I was 19, looking for extra money waitressing etc, there is NO WAY I would assume that serving drinks at a charity event at a prestigious, respectable hotel for £15 an hour would involve "extras". They may have twigged that they were effectively being paid to look pretty, but I don't think they were given any reason to suspect what went on at that event.
I would probably feel quite excited about it - a posh black tie do with the famous and powerful. Imagine expecting that, and then the growing realisation of what you have actually signed up for....

[BluePheasant]

Hopefully her dinosaur opinions are very much in the minority. Jeremy Vine’s show always aims to get people on with polar opposite views to ruffle feathers which is why I don’t normally listen to it but wanted to hear what was being said on this topic. Most of the callers were appalled but of course we have no way of knowing how many callers agreed with Tina but weren’t given any airtime.

[badabing36]

If I was 19, looking for extra money waitressing etc, there is NO WAY I would assume that serving drinks at a charity event at a prestigious, respectable hotel for £15 an hour would involve "extras". They may have twigged that they were effectively being paid to look pretty, but I don't think they were given any reason to suspect what went on at that event.

Me too, if I have a daughter I will be boring her with stories like this (age appropriately) all the time.

[WeeBisom]

I’ve heard some people criticising the waitresses- “they should have known what they were getting into, this gig was notorious” - but where is all the criticism of the men? Why do we not hear things like “well the guys should have kept their hands to themselves. They only have themselves to blame”, or “those men had the choice to leave as soon as they realised the event was abusive to women.” What astonishes me is time and time again, men’s actions are treated as an agentless force of nature, an unpreventable occurance. Men are DOING these things. Men are CHOOSING to grope women.

[squeaver]

Can I ask you all a question? I've looked at their accounts and some small charities (much smaller than GOSH) have received funds from them in the past - and may be expecting funds from them from this event?

These are charities who may be relying on that money to fund their activities. What do you think they should do?

[squeaver]

Actually, India Knight on Twitter just answered this dilemma for me: they shouldn't give the money back; they should ask for more to make up for the embarrassment.

[DeleteOrDecay]

What astonishes me is time and time again, men’s actions are treated as an agentless force of nature, an unpreventable occurance. Men are DOING these things. Men are CHOOSING to grope women.

This is what makes me so angry. Every time something like this comes out, it's always the women's behaviour under scrutiny. Like people forget that men do actually have control over their actions and should be held accountable when they do shitty things.

It's expected that men will grope and harass women and it's our responsibility as women to avoid these men. If we fail at avoiding them then what ever happens to us is our fault. That's not how it should work and I'm fed up with it

[squishysquirmy]

I don't blame the charities for this - unless they were in attendance, and could see first hand what was going on.

I blame the men who organised it (at some point there must have been meetings where pretty grim decisions were made), the men who attended and treated the women like meat, and the men who attended year after year and happily watched it all go on, as if it was all a jolly good jape. (Hur hur hur, good thing we don't let wimmin in as guests eh? They'd spoil all our fun hur hur hur..)

I see why GOSH has handed back the money, but it is a shame in a way that they are missing out on money because some mysogenistic men are incapable of holding a fundraiser without exploiting women.

[safariboot]

I can't say I'm surprised. Just disappointed.

[DeleteOrDecay]

Of course you don't see the issue. You're a man, this crap doesn't affect you!

[AngryAttackKittens]

AS A MAN...

Off you fuck, pet. The issue here is that there's a big chunk of society (hint - it's mostly the ones with the penises) that doesn't think that anything that happened at that even was wrong. They'll pretend they do to a certain extent, but fundamentally they believe that a constant supply of nubile young women to grope (or worse) is just a natural and expected perk of being a powerful man. That's why none of the men left, and that's why there are men doing the "well they could have just not taken the job".

[ladyballs]

The larger charities would have had to sign off on the programme, so would have seen the tone of the event. What were they thinking?

A small charity has given back their donations. I admire their integrity.

[RedToothBrush]

The larger charities would have had to sign off on the programme, so would have seen the tone of the event. What were they thinking

Na I doubt that. It won't have seen the light of day outside the organisers office and the graphic designers office. The charities will just have supplied their brand guidance.

[ladyballs]

Hmmm Red we'll have to agree to disagree. I can't believe a large charity like GOSH wouldn't have been more involved.

[Vicxy]

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.

Grim grim grim. Why are so many men so gross?

Its got to be a lot of them. I refuse ti believe the same few men will travel the country constantly groping and such and personally I have been felt up at least 10 times randomly on public transport and such.

And stuff like this men only party seemingly designed to objectify young women who are just trying to make some bloody money..does not help at all.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Tina Knight was on Radio 5 as well, giving her "airheads - what did they expect?" spiel. Just astonishing. And then all the texts in response saying how right she was, and that hen parties are just as bad/even worse etc. Makes me want to fuck off to a private island somewhere away from the many people who seem to think like this. If only I could afford it.

[AngryAttackKittens]

I've been planning this with friends for years, it's going to be called Misandry Island and I intend to lobby for specially trained patrol sharks.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Maybe we should start a Go Fund Me page to raise enough dosh to buy one?

[KateSheppard]

What did those politicians know of the nature of this event and when did they know it?

At minimum, all politicians who attended should be named and required to account for both the reason they chose to attend and what actions they took to ensure the safety of the young constituents being assaulted and terrorised all around them.

The attitude that politicians take towards women is central to the way in which they govern us all. Attendance of such an event suggests a very particular attitude. We female constituents deserve answers.