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Booth Babes RSA: Models In Sexy Attire Banned From April RSA In San Francisco

By Effie Orfanides
Published on: 01:32 PST, Apr 1, 2015

You won’t be seeing booth babes at RSA in San Francisco next month because the popular tech trade show has decided to ban models (both men and women) from wearing sexy attire. According to CNet, these models would wear barely-there outfits and stand near their company’s displays as sort of trophy pieces. After years of this happening, some groups are trying to do away with the whole idea because they feel that these people are used as “sexualized props.”

RSA made the decision to ban provocative outfits at their five-day trade show in April.

“We want everyone to feel like they can comfortably enjoy all of the sessions and activities that this year’s show has to offer,” said RSA Conference Vice President and curator, Sandra Toms.

Booth babes at RSA were previously somewhat of a staple. Women (and men) would dress in skimpy outfits to attract people to their company’s booth. The idea wasn’t necessarily as “genius” as some of the products on display, but people were used to this being a part of the event. Now, companies are going to be forced to try something different to bring attention to their displays. Many believe that this change is a positive one.

“The outcome of dressing women inappropriately, establishing them as eye-candy or as decorative objects or hyper-sexualized figures, results in people taking women in general less seriously and being less inclined to hire women and promote women into positions of authority,” said Carol Colatrella, author of Toys and Tools in Pink: Cultural Narratives of Gender, Science, and Technology.

So far, the response to not having booth babes at RSA seems positive, but there is still a lot of debate going on.

According to PC Magazine, RSA exhibitors were given clear rules about what will not be tolerated at this year’s trade show.

“Exhibitors should ensure that the attire of all staff they deploy at their booth (whether the exhibitor’s direct employees or their contractors) be considered appropriate in a professional environment.”

The booth babes controversy has been alive and well for years. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, there was some serious debate on the topic back in 2013. Now, two years later, the industry is changing — some feel for the better. What do you think of booth babes being banned at RSA this year?

[Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

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