Techweek planned to host its Black Tie Rave, “an event that gives Techweek attendees the chance support local nonprofits, rub elbows with the biggest names in tech, congratulate this year’s Chicago Techweek100” in Chicago, but an inept advertising move got in the way. The ad that went out featured a cheesy photo of women in cheesecake poses and sexy outfits, showing off for the camera.
[pullquote]Just in case it wasn’t already clear: The rules of the road are changing in tech, long seen as one of the last bastions ofchauvinism with a “brogramming” culture.[/pullquote]
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Paul Lee, partner at venture fund Lightbank; Brian Fitzpatrick, engineering manager at Google Inc.’s Chicago office; and Harper Reed, CEO of Modest Inc. and former CTO of Obama For America all sided with the #YesAllWomen and declined to be associated with the sexist advertising for the campaign.
Chicago’s own Melissa Pierce who worked with Everpurse had a sour experience in 2013 with the pre-conference event, when the purses she was asked to bring to the tech show, ended up on the walkway with bikini-clad models. [pullquote]I was ashamed of Chicago tech. I was ashamed that my product was up on that stage. I was ashamed that I put it there without asking if the show was going to be “safe” for women in tech[/pullquote]
NOTE: This story was scheduled to run as an event notice before the Tech Week event, but is has been edited after the Tech Week ad for 2014 was sent out and caused an uproar.
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