If I went to a party and there were things going on that I was uncomfortable with, I would leave. I don’t think I would demand everyone change to suit my tastes. As a married man I wouldn’t be too crazy about half-naked dancers, but I would either ignore it or leave, not try to force everyone to do things my way.
Also, color me a bit confused. Don’t, at least some, feminists say that women should celebrate their sexuality and their bodies? Which is it?
Don’t get me wrong, like I said I’m not too crazy about this and wouldn’t feel comfortable myself. I just don’t get that on one hand I’ve got feminists espousing the sexual revolution but on the other hand they get as uptight, if not more, then an uber-religious grandparent if something offends them. They then also feel the need to try and make everyone else conform to their standards, which, like I said, are not always very clear.
Jesus: Yes, absolutely, we should celebrate our sexuality and our bodies. But there’s a time and place for it. That would be at the bar (or hotel) _after_ the professional party.
Carol, maybe you should redirect your angst towards the women that said “yes, I’d like to earn money by dancing in skimpy clothing” rather than targeting the people that hire them. Let’s not forget, the people hiring are the ones that cater to their audience, it’s not some sort of sexist white collar looking to demean a gender. So I say you should be really looking to change the women that do this to themselves, instead of somehow blaming some one else.
Ryan: I would never be annoyed at women who choose to dance at parties. It’s their profession, and ya gotta make rent somehow. I am, however, vexed by people who hire them for professional events.
I think whether they were strippers or dancers makes a huge difference. Hiring dancers is a legitimate form of entertainment for a party. If they were *erotic* dancers, then yes, that is clearly aimed toward heterosexual men and is therefore exclusionary. Maybe because I was a dancer before I started working in the gaming industry, I can appreciate that as an entertainment option. I guess I would have to see how and where they performed to decide whether to be up in arms about it.
Jen: I agree that dancing can be an entertainment option, but I’m not sure that a professional party is the best place for it. I think professional dancers at these kinds of parties are at their best when they’re trying to get attendees to dance, rather than be on display themselves.
For the record, I would love to dance at these parties (I studied bellydancing a few years ago). I just don’t want to be the only one.
“Professional Party” just seems kinda like a weird idea in the first place. In my opinion there are two acceptable options: 1. Co-Ed dancers. 2. No alcohol, and no paid dancers. Everyone swing dances maybe?
Also, the purpose of the party makes a big difference. Is this actually a “party” or is it more of an event where people are trying to focus on business talk and dancers are detracting from that?
Wasn’t it a booze filled after hours party that you want to belly dance it? How come booze and belly dancing is appropriate, but when go-go dancers show up suddenly the setting has to be professional?
Actually, it can be very appropriate at professional party to have dancers. I went to a party at SIGGRAPH with dancers, acrobatics, and fire breathers. It was awesome. As long as it is done skillfully and tastefully, I don’t have a problem with it. Actually, if it is done skillfully and tastefully, it can blow my mind.
If I went to a party and there were things going on that I was uncomfortable with, I would leave. I don’t think I would demand everyone change to suit my tastes. As a married man I wouldn’t be too crazy about half-naked dancers, but I would either ignore it or leave, not try to force everyone to do things my way.
Also, color me a bit confused. Don’t, at least some, feminists say that women should celebrate their sexuality and their bodies? Which is it?
Don’t get me wrong, like I said I’m not too crazy about this and wouldn’t feel comfortable myself. I just don’t get that on one hand I’ve got feminists espousing the sexual revolution but on the other hand they get as uptight, if not more, then an uber-religious grandparent if something offends them. They then also feel the need to try and make everyone else conform to their standards, which, like I said, are not always very clear.
Jesus: Yes, absolutely, we should celebrate our sexuality and our bodies. But there’s a time and place for it. That would be at the bar (or hotel) _after_ the professional party.
Carol, maybe you should redirect your angst towards the women that said “yes, I’d like to earn money by dancing in skimpy clothing” rather than targeting the people that hire them. Let’s not forget, the people hiring are the ones that cater to their audience, it’s not some sort of sexist white collar looking to demean a gender. So I say you should be really looking to change the women that do this to themselves, instead of somehow blaming some one else.
You would leave? That is exactly the problem. Having this kind of event tells women they are not welcome.
I am all for sexy dancing, but there is a time and place, and that is not at a professional event where you want to be inclusive.
> we should celebrate our sexuality and our bodies. But there’s a time and place for it.
Why is that though? Aren’t they great enough to be celebrated all the time?
Ryan: I would never be annoyed at women who choose to dance at parties. It’s their profession, and ya gotta make rent somehow. I am, however, vexed by people who hire them for professional events.
Let’s never miss an opportunity to shame women, right?
A female is upset at attractive girls dancing in tight outfits. Anyone surprised? Nope, me either.
This honestly bothers anyone?!?!?! i mean really please get over it, grow up and be less sheltered.
That’s a shame. The photo is fuzzy and very dark. How can we see the ladies Forbes ?
Pretty girls at a trade show ? Oh the Horror!
I think whether they were strippers or dancers makes a huge difference. Hiring dancers is a legitimate form of entertainment for a party. If they were *erotic* dancers, then yes, that is clearly aimed toward heterosexual men and is therefore exclusionary. Maybe because I was a dancer before I started working in the gaming industry, I can appreciate that as an entertainment option. I guess I would have to see how and where they performed to decide whether to be up in arms about it.
Jen: I agree that dancing can be an entertainment option, but I’m not sure that a professional party is the best place for it. I think professional dancers at these kinds of parties are at their best when they’re trying to get attendees to dance, rather than be on display themselves.
For the record, I would love to dance at these parties (I studied bellydancing a few years ago). I just don’t want to be the only one.
“Professional Party” just seems kinda like a weird idea in the first place.
In my opinion there are two acceptable options:
1. Co-Ed dancers.
2. No alcohol, and no paid dancers. Everyone swing dances maybe?
Also, the purpose of the party makes a big difference.
Is this actually a “party” or is it more of an event where
people are trying to focus on business talk and dancers
are detracting from that?
Wasn’t it a booze filled after hours party that you want to belly dance it? How come booze and belly dancing is appropriate, but when go-go dancers show up suddenly the setting has to be professional?
Actually, it can be very appropriate at professional party to have dancers. I went to a party at SIGGRAPH with dancers, acrobatics, and fire breathers. It was awesome. As long as it is done skillfully and tastefully, I don’t have a problem with it. Actually, if it is done skillfully and tastefully, it can blow my mind.