I guess someone didn't get the memo about Mardi Gras.

[Shockeye]

Women appalled by bar event
WebPosted Mar 10 2005 10:32 AM AST
CBC News

FREDERICTON  —  The Hilltop pub in Fredericton is apologizing to female customers who were subjected to sexist behaviour at a Mardi Gras promotion this week.

Twenty-year-old Lyndsey Gallant says the problems started the moment she arrived with a group of her female friends.

"When we walked in, I showed the bouncer my ID and I thought we were all going to get these necklaces," she said.

"And, I'm like, 'Oh, that'll be fun.' And when I asked for one, the bouncer said, 'well, you know, if you show me your tits sweetie, you can have a necklace.'"

It turned out that trading plastic beads for various favours was the theme of the bar's Mardi Gras promotion – a gimmick which first gained notoriety in Florida and other spring break hot-spots in the United States.

"Every man that went up to you was asking you to expose your breasts to them," Gallant said. "It made me feel worthless. You know, these dinky beads that they probably got at the dollar store, saying this is how much your body is worth."

Gallant says by the time she got fed up an left about half an hour later, between 20 and 30 men had asked her to expose her breasts in exchange for necklaces.

Jim Cooper, who manages the Hilltop Grill and Beverage Company, agrees the women have a right to be angry.

He also apologizes for his employee's comments.

"He no longer works here. We do not condone any derogatory behaviour towards women in any way, shape or form," Cooper says.

"We've got a staff of almost 70 and half of the people that work here are women, so we would never, ever promote anything along those lines."

Cooper says the Mardi Gras event has been drawing a big crowd to his bar for the past few years and there haven't been any incidents or complaints of any kind.

But to make it up to Gallant, he says the business will donate the proceeds of its next fundraiser to a charity of her choice.

Gallant has one picked out: the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre.

[HaemishM]

...

[Furiously]

I can't wait until she goes to an ameture night at a strip club.

[WayAbvPar]

Shocked, I am SHOCKED that there is gambling going on in here!

The employee was probably a bit out of line, but I think the compliantant went there with the direct intent of being outraged, and so got her wish.

[Sky]

"Show me your tits" is derogatory?

Check. From now on, I'll use a new slogan: "Whatever you do, don't lift your shirt and explose those flabby disgusting bags of shit on your chest." Much better.

While I find the behavious crude (I've never done it, but then...I never needed to ask, heh), and indeed, the treatment of women at shows like Woodstock 99 was appalling...this is just stupid. I guess now the last person on earth knows what those beads connotate.

You know, these dinky beads that they probably got at the dollar store, saying this is how much your body is worth."

He's not asking for your hand in marriage, numbnuts. How much do you think a second of viewing flesh is worth, fer crissakes. Well, she does sound like daddy's little princess. Pity the foo that ends up with that chick.

Jim Cooper, who manages the Hilltop Grill and Beverage Company, agrees the women have a right to be angry.

What a pussy. They have a right to be offended and turn teh fuck around and hit another club. Imo.

[SirBruce]

"Every man that went up to you was asking you to expose your breasts to them," Gallant said. "It made me feel worthless. You know, these dinky beads that they probably got at the dollar store, saying this is how much your body is worth."

Mark Twain is at a party, mingling with the upper crust, and he's talking to an obviously rich matron who is busy lamenting the death of morality. Mr. Twain interrupts her to ask, "My dear madam, your complaints are well-grounded, but I wonder if you would sleep with me for one million dollars?"

The woman replied, a bit flustered, "For one million dollars, well, who wouldn't?"

"Unfortunately," Mr. Twain continued, "I don't have one million dollars. Will you sleep with me for twenty?"

The woman became offended and said indignantly, "Certainly not! What kind of woman do you think I am?!"

To which Mr. Twain replied, "We've already established that, madam; now we're just haggling over the price."

Bruce

[Ironwood]

You know, what's worse is that you can really tell she WANTED those beads.

Must have had horrid tits or summat.

[El Gallo]

I could see the woman's point of view.  I'm sure there are a lot of people in the US who don't know about the "show your bosom for plastic" gimmik, so I don't really think it's fair to expect a Canadian to know.  It is a different country, after all.  Sort of.  Walking into a bar and being told to show your tits by a bar employee is not something people have reason to expect.  They probably don't have the proper license for that sort of thing anyway.