The President's Club Annual Gala - "Men Behaving Badly"

Some behaviours are most definitely unacceptable, however, I am disappointed that women are constantly portrayed as naive and unable to deal with inappropriate behaviour - it's just infantilising them.
If a man gropes you, tell him to keep his bloody hands to himself!
I'm very mixed on this particular story and fed up with women being given the choice of sex object or human without agency. Neither is acceptable for me.
I'm disappointed with the charities, who have rushed to give the money back too. Take it - do something wonderful with it.

These young women didn’t have to go to this do. Nobody dragged them along with a gun to their heads.
Innocent young girls I don’t think, they knew exactly what they were letting themselves in for.
I acted as a hostess at the Dorchester Hotel In the late 1960s but I only had to sell raffle tickets. I was allowed to take along my then boyfriend for free and we had a great evening.
I did go to a Law Society do some years ago and was appalled at the vulgaraty of a certain Lord.........it was so awful that I walked out of the room and went to the ladies room. I was just surprised that I was the only woman who did leave the room.
Oldwoman......would you also do away with ‘all women’ events. Have you ever been to one of these?. Let me assure you that it isn’t just men who behave badly.

I don’t know what all women events would be equivalent to this one. It’s not the same as a hen night where a dozen girls might get hammered and loud, this was a black tie event at a posh hotel . You can bet they won’t be hosting any more of these events there. Even if the girls were all up for being ogled and groped ( and I don’t believe they were) doesn’t make it right that such sleazy events should be held in the name of charity fund raising.

I don't care whether these young women were totally naive, slightly wary of the upcoming event or fully aware that some men would abuse their positions of power. It sickens me that rich, often older, men felt it appropriate to make lewd remarks and grope young women employed as hostesses. It seems to me that the statement that it would be "the most un-PC event of the year" was designed to encourage the guests to behave like uncouth louts.

Why was it necessary to make it an all-male event? Single sex groups may be appropriate in some instances, but why for an evening of dinner and entertainment?

Sadly, once again, we see some women blaming other women for the sleazy, immature and intimidating behaviour of men.

When DD was a student (25 years ago) she worked in a pub in the evening's. When DS commented on the leather micro skirt she wore to work she said she wore it because of the tips it generated. This was done strictly on her terms and I think anyone who attempted to touch her would,have regretted it. She has never been known for suffering fools gladly.

I am surprised at some of the posters seemingly so judgmental of the young women. They could have no idea especially with all the sex scandals these days what to expect. Perhaps they were naiive but this took place at the Dorchester a very respectable up market hotel and not some sleazy dive. They might not even known it was all male, which i woukd think is fairly unusual these days.

As an 18 year old in the 1960s I went into the bar at the dorchester with a girlfriend, they did not serve us and asked us to leave. I was very annoyed, we had no idea why, we were decent and sober but only later realised they thought we were ladies of the night because we were you ng and wearing mini dresses
Whatever a woman chooses to wear, that is not an invitation to grope or touch or expose. If it were one of our daughters or granddaughters would we be so quick to blame them and not the men who on this occasion held the power to carry out random assaults with impunity.

I don't think any young woman could anticipate that the men attending would be so foul. It was after all a charity event, with many well-known names mentioned in the publicity material. Their world is one where they are free to move around in public with no fear of unwanted attention. The world they were catapulted into was very different. Little wonder they were too shocked to react. It takes a brave woman to complain when surrounded by agressive rich men.

The law firm I worked for had an all male boxing event. It was all very secretive. Some of the men involved were known womanisers. Nothing changes sadly.

I was going to post earlier but didn't have time.

However, I have just heard on the news that it was 'what happened at the after-party that was the cause of most concern'.
Why, if you were a hostess at the event and were uncomfortable with the atmosphere there, would you even think about going to an 'after-party'?
Surely these young women should have more than a modicum of common sense, bearing in mind the widely publicised #MeToo campaign?

If I had found myself in that awful position, I would have taken my money and gone home. My DD, I am sure, would have walked out, however, short of cash they were as students.

Apparently the Agency had 'suited men and women' there ensuring that even the reluctant hostesses engaged with the guests.

There are more questions to be asked than the obvious ones.

ps that is not to mean that I would excuse the behaviour of the guests which was appalling.

Well I m very glad these dirty old men have been shown up for what they are and if the ladies were as worldly and knowing as some of you think ( I m not so sure) I m equally glad their employment arrangements have been curtailed

Most of the men at this event were old enough to be the hostesses grandfathers, the girls probably thought that men of that advanced age were beyond it and that they(the hostesses) were a bit of fun and giggles for these essentially emasculated men.

BlueBell, would you not have thought being told to wear black underwear and heels nothing to be of concern or doubt ?

Would the girls have been told the ages of the men MOnica?

Doesn't matter if the girls did all know what the evening was going to be like, if they were all completely worldly wise and totally Ok with being groped or even more, as some on here are implying, such a ghastly sleazy event shouldn't be happening in 2018.

No, it shouldn't, I agree suzied

Has anyone ever been to see these?

www.dreamboys.co.uk/male-strippers
or these?
www.chippendales.com/dancers

Years ago someone at work organised a 'night out' and lots of us went - it turned out to be the Chippendales. Work colleague and I sat and cringed but in fact a whole club full of women were whooping and some, including a very staid work colleague, were trying to get up on the stage with them.

The thing is, they are still performing in 2018 .....
Shouldn't be allowed either.

VERY very different I'd stay - Chippendales are grown men who have decided to do this to make money, knowingly, as adults.

Now I've never seen any of them, apart from the Full Monty film- and just wouldn't want to either. But there is NO comparison.

If both men and females were willing why shouldn't it happen in 2018 , if the girls were over 16, then not illegal

It is very different. There is a reason why Newquay's firms 'do' was secret, and male only.

A Chippendales show, ghastly though they are, is not same as a black tie charity fundraiser.Women who go to that know they are going to see men who would be paid to take their clothes off on stage, its not like they were going to a restaurant and sticking their hands down the waiter's pants.

I think the hostesses were adults too, I didn't hear any reports of children being involved.

suzied I can assure you that I was shocked at the 'show' I went to at women behaving in that way. No way home either as we went by coach.

Prostitution isn't illegal either, and it has been suggested that some of the young ladies may have been offering "extra services" in the mens' hotel rooms - would you want your business or this charity fundraiser to be associated with that?

newsthump.com/2018/01/25/presidents-club-disbanded-after-behaviour-of-members-crosses-line-into-presidential/

A la Berlusconi sleeze yuk.

So some were not the innocent victims portrayed then?

I would most certainly not and I understand some charities have refused the money raised, although I think this club should offer them all a substantial sum as an apology.