I came across a News.com story today that pushed one of my buttons. I’m still a little irritated, and so I decided to blog about it: “Sexy ‘booth babes’ banned at game show.” 

According to the article summary: “The video game industry’s 2006 E3Expo trade show in Los Angeles is getting a makeover–banned are the swarms of sexy, semi-clad ‘booth babes’ that in years past took the unveiling of new games and technology to titillating new levels.”

If you don’t know me, you might think that – as a woman in IT – I’m appalled at the subjectification of women at predominantly male-centered tech events. Or you might think that I am opposed to the new rules – after all, why shouldn’t women be able to wear as little clothing as they want and to manipulate men in buying things?  

Well, to tell you the truth, I’m not upset for either of those reasons. What really burns me is that this “booth babe” (ok, it’s really a cubicle) is fierce at video games – fierce, I tell you – but yet I haven’t been able to break through the male-inclusive game room here at work. Bitter? A tad, yes. What does a girl have to do to get a little game around here?