Female Affiliate Managers, etc...

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Jon

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Jun 21, 2006
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Anyone taking a deep look into this industry can find lots of wrong and little right in the large scope of things. But one thing, that has really bothered me to a degree, but continues to get worse and worse than no one EVER seem to address is how networks and affiliates are treating women of our industry.

This needs to stop now. I know a lot of guys will laugh at me for putting this out there, and thats fine, because most of those guys are douchebags and children, but we are all to blame for this, because until RIGHT NOW, no one has ever said a damn thing publicly about this.

If by writing this you think I'm going to walk around conferences with a baton in my hand looking for this, you're wrong. All I feel as if I can do it just ignite the spark on this. If you're a female in the industry and you love to party and go wild, more power to you, as there are TONS of girls and guys like this and they all rock. But this is meant for those who find it tough to stand up for themelseves or who think "this is the way the industry is and always will be" -- you're wrong.

This industry needs lots of cleaning up.. so lets start with something as easy (no pun) and lame as this.

Over the last, I dunno, 5-6 years this industry went from only a few female AMs and C-level women in the networks to nowadays there are so many women that they outrank the men at least 2:1, probably lots more. And yet, affiliates continue to harass the shit out of them on IM's, the phone, email, or in person (rare because most of them are giant pussies and would never really say anything to a girl without hiding behind the safety of their computer).

See, what you guys are doing, networks and affiliates alike, is that you are telling these women that you think they are WHORES or SLUTS, and that because you can drive traffic (big fucking woop) or because you're the boss of some network and you decide who gets which accounts that they need to blow you in order to get the good accounts, you are being not only counterproductive, but you are being a really huge and foolish asshole. You should not only be ashamed of yourselves, but you should be kicked in the fucking nuts!

I've held all of this in for a long long time now. I don't have a vagina so that's probably why I haven't said something sooner, or worse, that I thought this topic would sort of unfuck itself as time went by. But alas, the truth is that until someone in a position in which many people respect or look up to you, then hopefully by shedding some light on this shit, maybe it will stop happening.

Yeah, I know, it won't stop completely, because there are always those assholes who think that by treating a woman like a whore makes them feel like a bigger man, well, I hope guys like that get cancer of the penis quickly. Professionally and personally, you guys should know better.

It's 2008. Sexual harassment in the workplace has clearly evolved into something that can't be pinpointed down to a specific physical workplace. Its bled out onto text messages, IM's, emails, FB, etc.

Typically the answer I hear is "well, sex sells you know.. hehe" -- Let me be the first person to tell you that I agree, sex does sell. I was in the adult industry, I know first hand at how well it sells. But why don't you ask yourself this then: "if sex sells, and you're not selling sex as a product or service of your company, THEN WHY WOULD YOU USE YOUR AM'S COME OFF AS WHORES?!!!" -- I mean honestly, if you're not selling escort services, why would you make your AM's always feel like they need to dress hot in order to reel in or entertain some stupid young affiliates? Come on.. enough already. If whoring out your own employees to dress or act like drunken sluts is the only way you can think of to gain a competitive edge on your competitors then you should NOT be in this industry you scumbags.

My hat is off to all of the female AM's that have put up with serious harassment for months and years even, and have somehow or another learned to ignore it or screen it out. You deserve a medal.

To the networks:
If I continue to see and hear about this, I'm going to start to name names. I don't care who you are, how long we've known one another, or what the legal ramifications may be, I'm not going to shut the fuck up about this for any longer.

To the affiliates:
Just because you may be an "earner" of some sort, does NOT give you the right to hit on the AM's. No one cares how much money you make or can make. I can assure you, when you talk about it to them, they are just laughing at you inside and hoping to hell that you will not try and dance with them at a party. Stop sending them those weird text messages. Stop IM'ing and emailing them your pictures, no one cares what you look like. Stop stalking them on Facebook or any other social networks. If you need female friends, leave your house once in a while and stop jerking off so much. Or I dunno, maybe use some of that bank you're pulling in to get some plastic surgery to make yourself look attractive if that's really the problem. Whatever the case may be.. I'll not only out you on here, but I'll out you to every female AM I know (probably a lot more than you know) AND at a conference too if you're so unlucky enough to show up and continue doing this shit.

The bottom line is that not all AM's care. Not a lot of affiliates act like the ones I'm directing this, and there are also a lot of networks who would never pull that kinda shit on their employees. Hell, there are even one or two networks that used to be REALLY bad with this but have since cleaned up their act, so kudos to all of those.

But for you few that still exist, your days are limited... Remember, you've been warned.

To all female affiliate manager reading this and agreeing, but not willing to speak up, that's fine, I'm sure everyone can understand. But if you're going to file a suit against anyone based on this post of mine, I think you should reconsider until Jan 2009, because in spite of what many of you may think, this post will be read by every network, and I promise you that you will see changes being made. If by Jan 2009 there are no changes made, by all means, sue the bejesus out of them and let us know!
 


To all the female AMs I've sexually harassed over the last year, I am truly sorry.
 
It's pretty disappointing that some of you guys are joking about this shit. This is definitely a real issue within the industry that I have already noticed within the 5 or so months since starting AM.

I know the atmosphere of WF is happy go lucky (minus the raping and pillaging of DPers, ebook marketers, 17 year old's who make 5 figures a week) but, somethings aren't a joke and should be taken seriously.

Instead of adding to the fire
something should be done, and I'm glad Jon spoke up before we start to lose some good affiliate managers just because a few people decided to be dickheads and hit on them. Not being able to pick up a chick in real life is NOT an excuse either. Oh, and just because you are 16, have a blackcard, and a sidekick isn't an excuse to hit on 25 year old female AM's, plenty of chicks at school.
 
FEMBOT DETECTED.

But in all honesty, I think you are right, Jon. It shouldn't matter if it takes place at a workplace or online, it is just plain wrong.
 
Here's my theory on why this is a problem:

The AM business attractions a lot of young males who have good tech skills - but little in the way of common sense or social skills. It's a testosterone-fuel industry that awards big bucks to geeks in t-shirts that don't have to leave their homes to work, wear business clothes, or practice professional get-along skills in the office.
 
This is very true. A lot of people do this shit and don't think about it, which is fucked up. It's not high school or a college frat party.

Although you need to also keep this in mind from the reverse perspective. Having one of the companies AM's look at me and go "hey sweety, I got something I want to show you" and she actually fucking winked at me, and then did the little lick lips "come here" thing. Can't say shes not askin' for it. This was at the meet market at ASE boston, and the damn girl even took a picture with me.

I guess it worked considering I'm talking about it, but you know what. I won't name the damn company! Whether this was all of her doing, or the company leaned on her, either way it's a little fucked up. Kudos to you Jon, for bringing it public.
 
I was actually thinking some similar recently but not entirely. I've noticed most of my AM's have been female and most (if not all) affiliates I have spoken with have been male and I was curious if there are any female affiliates or if they are all account managers? Not that it really matters either way, just curiosity.
 
For once in your lives.. stop fucking around.
Well I haven't been around all that long but...what crawled up your ass and died?

I don't give a shit if my AM is male, female, white, black, green, Trannie, Sasquatch, chupacabra or what ever.
 
And this is why AC is me and 4 other guys who are ugly as sin :D

Seriously though, Jon, what prompted this message? And what prompted you to post it now?
Is it just threads like the "My AM is hotter than yours" or whatever it was that got posted a month or two ago?

BlueYonder and Bofu2u have good points.
Booth hussies get used a lot to attract newer affiliates, but bullshit they're really the ones managing any of the decent affiliates on the books.
From the networks' side of things though, I think a large part of it is also that the AMs role is more as a sales person, selling the network to new affiliates, than it is being a competent manager. And part of being a good sales person is looking the part, be it looking succesful, or being eye candy.
Consumer Psychology tells us that both men and women are far more likely to talk a stranger if that strager is a woman, particularly an attractive one, then they are to speak to a man.
 
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