[jonnathanson]

The chosen image creates the impression that women at parties are the "entertainment," and/or are sex objects. It also sends a belittling and hostile message to any women who may be planning to attend. And in general, it's in pretty poor taste for an industry event. It feels like the kind of flier I'd expect to have shoved into my hands while walking down the strip in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.

As men, we are so frequently accustomed to seeing images like this that we don't really see what's so bad about them. That's more of the point of the blog post, at least as I read it. It's a good point. This sort of thing won't strike most male readers as all that big a deal, and that's part of the issue.

[sp332]

Huh... that's actually the opposite impression I got from the photo. While there is always an element of "performing" in a photo booth, I don't see any obvious male influence. Trying to put myself in the shoes of a woman getting this invite, these photos would be encouraging. It's evidence that A) women actually show up and B) that women can relax and have fun at these events. That's why I was so surprised at the reaction.

[outside1234]

How does it do that? Serious question! The people in the picture are having fun at a party at one of those photo shoot stations that is at every black tie party.

[jonnathanson]

Those strike me as models, not party attendees, presumably paid to pose for that photo, or to be at some event in which the photo was taken. They are not dressed in black tie attire; they are dressed in a sexy, posed, clearly pre-coordinated "booth babe" take on black tie. I could be wrong, but that's the impression the photo gives me.

[sp332]

Techweek specifically said they were attendees posing in a photo booth. You might question that, but would it make a difference?

[kristofferR]

So is the issue that there's no guys in the picture or that the women are too beautiful?

[domdip]

Neither. You can add a leering guy to the picture and it will still be offensive. There are probably pictures with beautiful women that would not be offensive.

The 'issue' has been described several times in the comments and in the original article. Trying to reduce it to one feature isn't helpful.

[kristofferR]

The original article says nothing at all about what the problem is and the comments here says a lot of different things, most doesn't make any sense at all (complaining about sexualizing a rave...).