01.13
Emerging technological breakthroughs were once synonymous with lab coats, thick-rimmed glasses and dodgy haircuts. In more recent times, (much like the motor industry) the technology industry – especially the ‘gadget’ and ‘gaming’ sectors – have been promoted through the use of pretty woman, often scantily clad or in latex, hired to give products some ‘sex appeal’ and entice consumers to get up and personal on the stand. The gaming and gadget industry may still be driven primarily by male consumers, but does this cheap marketing ploy still work, and is it acceptable with the ever rising female user-base and woman working in the tech industry? What are your thoughts on ‘eye-candy’ at expos? Tasteless? Harmless? Unrepresentative? Would you rather someone who had more than a one minute briefing demonstrate their wares? Are you offended as a male, to be targeted as being a hormonal schoolboy – won over by a pretty lady, or as a female, that women are used as the products themselves?
Some women at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas have expressed their frustration at the scantily-clad “booth babes” hired by some companies to promote their stalls.
The BBC’s Matt Danzico investigates whether this practice is an effective marketing strategy, or merely a reflection on gender relations in technology.
WATCH THE REPORT HERE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16533289
(Opinion: Jon Price – designer)
I think something like this being a concern is more a reflection of the ever increasing political correctness entering our lives. These women arn’t being tricked, drugged and forced to promote gadgets at a conference, the human trafficking trade is where women are really being used and exploited, but facing that problem would make people too uncomfortable, so the BBC is investigating this nonsense. Also with the greater dominance that technology, specifically the Internet, has in our lives, there is greater transparency to most business and marketing practices. Most people who are going to conferences like that should know why those women are there, dressed as they are, and hot. If they then choose to go along with it that’s up to them.
iSchwing Baddaaaaaa