Sexual harrassment in the breweries

Status
Not open for further replies.
soccerdad

soccerdad

Well-Known Member
Trial Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
587
Reaction score
1,020
Points
93
Curious if any of you have read about this. Apparently there was a case at Boulevard Brewing (Kansas City) that hit the news in something of a big way, and once it did, there were dominoes that started to fall in other small breweries. Anybody hear about this?
 
Drew and Denny discussed it on the latest Experimental Brewing podcast. Sounds like Boulevard Brewing turned a blind eye to some pretty serious issues. Too bad it took intense public shaming to get them to do the right thing.
 
That's extremely unfortunate to read about. It was also disappointing when Founder's did not fire the employees sued for racial discrimination. I'll add Boulevard Brewing to my boycott list, though it won't hurt as much as banning Founder's. I miss the All Day IPA.

I've daydreamed about switching careers and trying to work at a brewery in some capacity, but these industry-wide allegations are concerning and make me reconsider my dream job.
 
Barbarian - I also found out about this from the podcast. Shocked me. But truth be told, it's everywhere.
Perhaps, as people who love beer and brewing, we can do our part to insist that women, people of color, and those who are not "just like us" are given every opportunity to succeed in this niche market.
 
Unfortunately there are bad people everywhere
 
soccerdad said:
Barbarian - I also found out about this from the podcast. Shocked me. But truth be told, it's everywhere.
Perhaps, as people who love beer and brewing, we can do our part to insist that women, people of color, and those who are not "just like us" are given every opportunity to succeed in this niche market.
Click to expand...

While it’s not perfect now, it’s better than ever before since more women and POC are becoming more common in breweries in a management or brewing capacity. Even with homebrewing, when I was younger I was not treated well in homebrew stores, for example.

One time, probably 15 or 18 years ago, I was with my dad in a well-known homebrew store. I was ignored totally, but three different clerks approached my dad asking if he needed help as he wandered around. Finally I got someone to go ask someone about the pH meters (they were behind the counter). I was actually asked in one store “Hiya little lady, would you like to learn to make a nice wheat beer?”. I said, no, I was actually looking for a Blichmann thru-mometer for my 1/2 bbl all-electric brewery.

We still have a way to go, but we’re making progress just by acknowledging it. I do have to say that I’m always treated well by other brewers, both homebrewers and pros, whenever I see them at their work or at conferences.
 
The way we keep that going in the right direction is frankly to hold us white ass men accountable. Don't tolerate shit slung at women and "minorities", if you do I have zero sympathy for you and I hope you get driven out too.

I've worked with women more competent than me most of my life and this silly ass shit has to stop. If you have an issue with that, well get bent.

I don't know a lot of local women brewers in Edmonton but the ones I do know are the best in the city, so guys better put their damned egos aside.
 
I am glad to see Yooper pitch in here. She was one of the first people 'not just like me' that I became aware of years ago as I looked around for ways to brew better. A tremendous positive influence on many people.
Brewing is a great activity for spanning cultures and lifestyles. We are lucky to be a part of it. I hope we don't screw it up.
 
I agree that this forum is a great model for inclusion. Let's not forget that harassment and bias isn't limited to what we are used to seeing it depicted as. It is a two sided axe and, even though one side is most often suppressed, it is quite real. I'm sure many of you have seen me react to it on more than one occasion. I don't condone, and don't stand still for it, whichever direction it's pointed. Fair is fair.
 
Not surprising in the least. In many ways, the brewing industry is very male dominated, and pretty similar to the traditional factory workplaces.

I've seen and heard many similar stories, this situation was pretty well known as the person involved had posted publicly on professonal brewing communities, and the company posted not one but two statements. The first saying essentially, "we did nothing wrong, our totally unbiased investigation found no evidence of wrong doing blah blah blah", then "Oops our bad, a new investigation found company wide wide spread evidence of wrong doing"...

It's not just in the pro settings either, join any number of public brewing communities like the facebook groups, and see how many sexualized stereotypes are posted every week...

Anyways, I recommend checking out the Pink Boots Society if you'd like to see how you can help support more diversity and inclusion in the brewing industry.
 
This is what I see over and over again and who is to blame the person showing or looking because more and more woman are dressing very provocative, some too much like skin tight leggings or see a through shirt, it's a game to some and it can go both ways, you just have to not get pulled in to the game
 
Ozarks Mountain Brew said:
This is what I see over and over again and who is to blame the person showing or looking because more and more woman are dressing very provocative, some too much like skin tight leggings or see a through shirt, it's a game to some and it can go both ways, you just have to not get pulled in to the game
Click to expand...

With all due respect sir, this thread and article pertain to discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.

What someone wears, their gender, or their race should not allow anyone license to treat anyone with anything other than respect at work, or in any setting for that matter.

We white privileged males need to change the way we think and act. We should be taking steps to make things better, and not engage in victim blaming. Discrimination and harassment in the work place continues to be a problem. Employers are wholly responsible for providing a safe work environment for all workers, and have a responsibility to engage in fair hiring practices, in all industries.
We white ass privileged males need to practice tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion.
 
I'm so freaking tired of the term "white privileged". I refuse to be made to feel inferior because I'm white and male.
And if this is the way this site is going I'm gone. So tired of this crap.
Sexual harassment doesn't know color or race and neither does discrimination.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unlock premium brewing calculators + ad-free brewing experience!
Copyright © 2007-2025 Brewer's Friend, Inc. - Send Feedback - Terms - RSS Feed - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Back
Top