Ivanka Trump disrupted the conversation about women in tech
Category: News & Politics
Via: tessylo • 4 years ago • 79 commentsBy: Jessica Conditt Jessica CondittSenior Editor Engadget January 8, 2020, 7:30 AM EST
In 2018, CES ended up with an all-male keynote roster for the second year in a row, and the CTA faced so much backlash from tech leaders and equality groups that organizers added two female panelists at the last minute.
But at CES 2020, the Consumer Technology Association is catching shade for inviting a woman to deliver a keynote address. A particular woman: Ivanka Trump, advisor to President Donald Trump. The criticism is grounded in surprise and confusion -- after all, Trump doesn't have direct ties to the technology industry. If her keynote session is an attempt to include female tech leaders in CES, organizers have missed the mark.
Trump was interviewed on stage by CTA chief Gary Shapiro yesterday in a talk titled, "The Path to the Future of Work." They discussed job creation, apprenticeship programs and skills training in the United States, tying it all back to Trump's role as co-chair of the National Council for the American Worker.
Of course, Trump's position as a policy influencer makes the keynote feel distinctly political, not just ill-suited. It's presidential election season in the United States, following half a decade of exponentially divisive, at times violent, disagreements between conservative and liberal voters. Political tensions are higher than they've been in a decade, and any mention of "Trump" -- Ivanka, Donald or otherwise -- can spark heated emotions in an instant. In this climate, the CTA's invitation to Trump feels like a pointed message.
Many business leaders in the technology sector blasted the CTA's decision to host Trump long before she took the stage. On the tweet announcing her appearance this year, responses ranged from surprise to full-on trip cancelations. Female tech workers were particularly vocal, offering suggestions of other, ostensibly more qualified, women who submitted panels and speaker proposals, but were rejected by the CTA.
One of these women was Heather Delaney, a startup mentor and founder of consulting agency Gallium Ventures.
"It's incredibly disappointing CES hasn't taken keynote speakers from its exceptional pool of women in tech."
- Heather Delaney
"I simply don't understand why CES has made the decision to have Ivanka speaking at the show instead of the many women who have built their careers in the technology industry," Delaney told Engadget. "It's incredibly disappointing CES hasn't taken keynote speakers from its exceptional pool of women in tech, who fully understand the future of work within the industry."
Delaney pitched a panel for CES 2020 highlighting female founders and technology companies building products for women. The CTA rejected it and didn't provide a reason.
"Innovation is a net job producer. Jobs will be created in industries that don't even exist today because of innovation," Trump said during her keynote.
Ivanka Trump at CES 2020
"There were many overly qualified women working in technology who also had their talks turned down," Delaney said. "Although, yes, Ivanka is a woman, it was disappointing to hear CES had decided to bring in a female speaker who has limited links to the industry compared to many of those wanting to discuss upcoming developments in software, AI, wearable technology and even sex tech."
"There were many overly qualified women working in technology who also had their talks turned down."
- Heather Delaney
Sex tech is intrinsically tied to the fight for gender equality at CES. At last year's show, the Osé -- a female-focused, hands-free orgasm device from startup Lora DiCarlo -- won a CES Innovation Award. And then the CTA revoked that honor, arguing the Osé was disqualified from consideration because it was "immoral, obscene, indecent, profane or not in keeping with CTA's image." Meanwhile, the CTA allowed a VR porn exhibit from Naughty America to set up in one of CES' main halls, and the show has historically featured sex robots including RealDoll and Solana. The main difference between Osé and these items, Lora DiCarlo founder Lora Haddock argued, was their intended market. Gadgets designed for women's health and pleasure were categorized as "immoral," while those for men were acceptable.
Haddock's disagreement with the CTA went viral and kickstarted a public debate about gender bias in the technology industry. Eventually, the CTA reversed its decision and re-granted the Osé its Innovation Award.
"CTA did not handle this award properly," read a statement from the organization. "This prompted some important conversations internally and with external advisors, and we look forward to taking these learnings to continue to improve the show."
The CTA opened up CES 2020 to sex tech companies on a one-year trial basis. This move gave tech and business consultant Cindy Gallop hope that CES would accept her talk, "Why Sex Tech Is the Next Trillion Dollar Category in Tech."
The CTA turned her down.
For years, CES has rejected speaker pitches from women on the basis that their talks didn't focus enough on tech, their credentials in the industry were too thin, they didn't meet the rigid requirements set by the CTA. Gallop's name has been brought up multiple times as a clearly missed opportunity for a qualified, female tech leader to speak at the show.
"CES' response to criticism of their lack of female keynote speakers historically has been that their standards are extremely rigorous, that they simply haven't been able to find women who deliver the same level of technological seniority, experience, credibility and gravitas as the many white men who populate their speaking stage," Gallop said. "And that they have no intention of putting any woman on stage who does not live up to their extremely high standards regarding a demonstrably, highly impressive track record in tech and business."
And then the CTA invited Ivanka Trump, a person with no direct ties to the industry, to CES to talk about jobs, a category that's only tangentially aligned with the show's goals. Around halfway through a circuitous response to a question about internship programs, Trump said, "I view most manufacturing as high-tech manufacturing these days. In America, manufacturing is high-tech manufacturing. Actually if you talk to a lot of manufacturers, they get very upset with Silicon Valley because they say, 'Hey, we're the original high tech.'"
For many female tech leaders who have tried for years to earn a speaking spot at CES, it all feels like hypocrisy.
Here's the CTA's full statement defending its decision to invite Trump to CES:
CES welcomes the world to Las Vegas to celebrate innovation. Policy discussions are a critical part of CES, and we will host almost 200 policymakers from around the world. CTA invites officials from every White House – both Republicans and Democrats – to participate in and speak at CES. The future of work is a critical policy topic for the technology sector. Life-changing tech innovations – from artificial intelligence to drones to self-driving vehicles – will create countless new jobs, and our industry has a responsibility to prepare American workers for the jobs of the future. Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump leads the White House efforts on job creation and economic growth through workforce development, skills training and entrepreneurship – and she will address them directly at CES 2020. She successfully spearheaded the effort to get major companies to commit to reskilling American workers for new jobs.
For many women in the tech sector, this justification isn't enough.
Cindy Chin is the founder of Women on the Block, a group that advocates for women in technology. She told The Guardian last week, "It would be better if the background of the keynote speaker actually fit the industry it is serving and inspirational, rather than talking heads and political."
Most years, the CTA comes under fire for excluding women from its keynote lineups at CES. This year, CES is hosting 15 keynote speakers, and five are women. However, the decision to invite Tump to the show has ensured the conversation focuses on just one.
Why the hell did they invite this know nothing feckless [deleted]?
Maybe because they wanted to?
Didn't you get your invite?
Or maybe it was something more sinister--like a plot to piss some people off by merely mentioning the name Trump?
"a plot to piss some people off by merely mentioning the name Trump?"
I see that it worked too!
I think you could whisper "Trump" in some peoples' ears and they would literally become near-hysterical.
You know some folks are so jealous because Ivanka is beautiful, smart, and rich.
The perfect combination of things some liberals hate.
Ivanka Trump is a crook. I do agree she has movie star looks and body though. There is photographic evidence of her highly impressive boob job.
That's nice.
Please list any and all convictions she has proving she is a crook, as you now claim.
Just like sister wife Melania - all fake, tits, nose, face, everything.
Ivanka was a saleswoman for Trump condo projects. She repeatedly misled investors as to the status of the projects. She was about to be indicted in NYC for this fraud until someone got to the DA's office.
She has just as many as Hillary, who Trump keeps claiming is crooked and should be "locked up".
I asked for proof, and you hand me that load of garbage?
Come on, can't you find one teeny little conviction proving she is a crook--as you claimed?
Instead of hearsay and crap?
Is it just the fact that they look so good that bothers you so much?
"Engage deflector shields, Mr. Spock!"
Do our own research. It is a waste of time to engage with you on this forum. Perrie allows trolling so there is nothing I can do about it.
Yup, she's got the finest fake tits/everything that money can buy.
Daddy encouraged her to get the fake tits. He wanted bigger tits to grab on to.
'Perrie allows trolling so there is nothing I can do about it.'
That's all she and her friends have done this whole article.
See if she can run a LEGAL CHARITY anywhere in the USA !
Yup, she and her brothers and daddy dearest all lined their pockets with their 'charity' endeavors.
The whole family are grifters, thugs, thieves. What about tRump's sister who was a judge who stepped down before being investigated?
tRump's Sister Retires To Avoid Fraud Investigation
Yeah, I couldn't find any convictions proving that she is a crook, so I will assume--sans PROOF--that your claim is ridiculous nonsense predicated on nothing more than your abject hatred of all and any thing Trump.
Unless you can prove she can NOT, then hell, yes she can!
You really have to get better sources--yours seem to tell lots of lies!
Judge orders Trump to pay $2 million for misusing his foundation
Trump ordered to pay $2 Million after misusing his charity in 'shocking pattern of illegality'
NOV. 7, 2019 03:16President Donald Trump must pay a $2 million judgment for improperly using his Trump Foundation charity to further his 2016 presidential campaign, a New York state judge ruled Thursday.
The order appears to bring to an end the New York attorney general's lawsuit against the president and three of his oldest children over the now-shuttered foundation, which the attorney general said had engaged in repeated wrongdoing.
“Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation — including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more," then-Attorney General Barbara Underwood alleged in a statement late last year.
Related
New York attorney general sues Trump Foundation, alleging vast illegal activity
In her seven-page ruling, New York Supreme Court Justice Salliann Scarpulla wrote, "Mr. Trump’s fiduciary duty breaches included allowing his campaign to orchestrate the Fundraiser, allowing his campaign, instead of the Foundation, to direct distribution of the Funds, and using the Fundraiser and distribution of the Funds to further Mr. Trump’s political campaign."
The judge was referring to a Jan. 28, 2016, event Trump held in Des Moines, Iowa, that he'd billed as a fundraiser for veterans. The event was counter-programming for a GOP presidential debate on Fox. Trump was feuding with the network at the time.
The event wound up raising $2.8 million, according to the judge, some of which Trump distributed in the form of giant checks at campaign rallies before the Iowa caucuses.
"The Attorney General has argued that I should award damages for waste of the entire $2,823,000 that was donated directly to the Foundation at the Fundraiser," Scarpulla noted. "In opposition, Mr. Trump notes that the Foundation ultimately disbursed all of the Funds to charitable organizations."
So are you mad that some organization invited Ivanka to speak, or are you just pissed at the way the Trumps look and how much money they have?
See?
Even your own source doesn't say that Ivanka is prohibited from heading a charity--as was claimed.
Now, got another source to prove what was claimed and what was asked for?
Link ?
See if she can run a LEGAL CHARITY anywhere in the USA !
do EXAMPLE, Where YOU think i LIED.
"Do our own research"
Libspeak for, "I haven't got anything and can not prove ant actual proof ."
"Before she was working for her father’s real-estate company — and then his White House — Ivanka Trump tried to make a go of it in modeling. It was a career in which Donald Trump, famous for bedding and wedding models, so keenly wanted his daughter to succeed that he told friends at the time Ivanka would be wise to get breast implants, according to a new book on the Trump family.
“Donald wanted it for her, bad, to the point where he suggested to friends that breast implants might help her along,” author Emily Jane Fox writes in Born Trump , which was released on Tuesday.
President Trump’s sister, Maryanne, was so mortified that she petitioned one of her brother’s friends to talk him out of letting her niece get plastic surgery.
“When his friend confronted him about it, he denied that [Ivanka] was getting implants,” Fox writes. “At the end of the call, he asked, ‘Why not, though?’
So ?
"He wanted bigger tits to grab on to."
Did Donald "Grab" them ?
It just further proves dirty Donald has at least an appearance of an inappropriate relationship with his daughter. Strange he was never caught saying any of those things about Tiffany, at least not since she was in diapers. If those were just completely normal things a dad would say about his daughters, why only praise for Ivanka? Why only recommending implants to Ivanka? Why clarify the comment “My daughter is beautiful, Ivanka" if he wasn't intentionally making sure no one thought he was calling his other daughter Tiffany "beautiful" which is something normal fathers might do? Sure, no normal father would say they'd be dating their own daughter if they only weren't their father. No normal father is recommending their daughter get breast implants unless their daughter had just been through breast cancer and had a mastectomy. No normal father say's "Yeah" it's okay to call their daughter a "piece of ass" in front of them.
Why am I not surprised to hear that coming from a Trump fan. Just more sick objectifying and misogyny coming from the right, staying true to their low bar and complete lack of any moral fortitude.
I suppose any bully could argue that they didn't "force" another kid to jump from the top of the swings, he just incessantly called him a weak pussy chicken if he didn't and had his cadre of creeps around him laughing and ridiculing the bully victim into doing something stupid. I'm sure virtually every Trump supporter would see that as the victims fault, he shouldn't have let himself get bullied into it. In their minds, as long as the bully didn't push him, then everything is okay. As long as Trump didn't sedate Ivanka, take her into a plastic surgeon against her will and have breast augmentation surgery to his specifications, then apparently to Trump supporters there's no problem with a dad pressuring his daughter to get breast implants.
Soooo.....Conjecture and Unnuendo's Again ?
"Why am I not surprised to hear that coming from a Trump fan."
What Women Did you ask to come up with that statement ?
Don't forget: Ask a Woman on why she get's "Implants" !
I've had this discussion with many women through the years. My mother in law just went in to have one replaced that had ruptured. None of them have ever said they did it because their daddy's recommended it. My wife often watched that show "Botched" and I believe the majority of people who get implants have such low self esteem and are so easily swayed by what other people think about them that they feel breast implants are necessary to get along in this world which is both a very sad commentary about humanity and especially the sick importance put on external image and so little importance put on internal wealth, health and self value.
Saying "Implants make the woman" is just callously objectifying women, which while not uncommon, is quite telling about ones own lack of self respect and value.
Did Ivanka say that's why she got 'em ?
Not deflecting to Hillary, just pointing out your hypocrisy between 2 women with no criminal charges against them.
One you demand be treated respectfully because she has no criminal convictions against her (yet), the other one you demand to "lock her up" and label her as a criminal even though she also does not have any criminal convictions.
[Deleted]
Photoshop is GREAT when you need it to be....ain't it ?
Had a girlfriend once who was thinking about it. I told her that her tits were perfect as they were. She went ahead and did the job and then became a stripper out in Las Vegas. Haven't seen her in many, many years. Vegas is not my sort of town and I've had my fill of sex workers.
Look, there aren't very many women making any big splashes in the technology industry, so it is in their best interest to get a face up there people recognize to inspire more women to follow. Liberals do it with Hollywood actors/actresses all the time.
So you are happy with political eye candy and no credible substance?
Seems Fox has been doing hot blond ignorance for years.
In the real world there are a plethora of extremely successful tech ladies.
[Deleted]
They turned down well and over qualified women in the tech industry and invited this know nothing feckless cunt.
She's looking kind of skanky, time for more plastic surgery.
[delete]
While I wholeheartedly agree that CES made a grave error inviting Ivanka instead of the many extremely qualified women in the tech industry, calling her names and attacking her physical appearance is uncalled for and actually counterproductive to the point you're initially making.
So make the points about Ivanka's lack of qualification, her lack of experience in the tech industry and the obvious nepotism that gave her the position of co-chair of the National Council for the American Worker. If we are going to expect better from the right wing and their dear dirty dishonest leader Donald, then we can't emulate their penchant for disparaging women for their looks as Trump has so often done. Let Trump call women "horseface" or say they're "crazy" and "bleeding badly from a facelift" or "bleeding" from "wherever" or ridiculing Carly Fiorina with comments like "can you imagine that, the face of our new President?" or calling a female journalist "little". Let Trump and his sycophants inhabit the bottom of the bog, don't sink to their level.
I appreciate that DP. I'll do better.
We can all strive to do better, and this year I believe the American people will do better by tossing the Trump crime family out on their ears in disgrace. We just have to practice what we preach, if we don't, then we're no better than those we're trying to wake up.
The "Clintons" loved him (His money anyway) , until they didn't.
Crime Family sticks with Crime Family ?
Speaking of crime family(ies), Mario Puzo wrote the Godfather based on the The Borjias (Pope) and their family, he called them the original crime family.
If only he were still alive to see this crime family in the now White trash House.
Hey, look....
That almost mirrors the resume of Hunter Biden, you know, they guy libs say there was nothing wrong with him doing what he was doing.
I guess the difference is Ivanka wasn't kicked out of the Navy for doing coke, stealing the ID of a dead brother, fathering a child with a stripper while married to another woman. Oh, yeah...and dating the wife of your dead brother.
Oh, yeah.....but Truuuuuuuuump!!!!
Seems like Ivanka is far more successful.
Please point any crimes the Clintons were convicted for.
Thanks in advance.
I've never been a fan of the Clintons as I've made clear numerous times. I believed Clintons handful of accusers just like I believe Trumps four handfuls of accusers. Does anything the Clintons did excuse Trump of his gross behavior? Does the existence of one crime family excuse the actions of another? Do conservatives really base their own conscience and moral code on that of the Clintons, the people they claim to despise? Do they allow others to set their personal standards? Are they really that shallow and have that little backbone?
Yes. I assume you're in agreement since you just re-posted my post apparently for emphasis.
Oh, had to wait for you to correct your post and add irrelevant nonsense about Biden.
Nepotism: noun - the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs
Trump gave Ivanka her job. That is the very definition of nepotism.
Hunter Biden got his job from a company not owned or operated by anyone in his family. Did the company likely give him that job with the intent of gaining access to Hunters political contacts including his father? Yes, of course, just like many companies who hire those with political contacts do. Is that "nepotism"? Nope. So all the rest of your tired off topic diversionary post is beyond irrelevant, much like many of Trumps supporters.
Does a "Country" doing well, that didn't require someone "Reaching" Across the Aisle..... bother you ?
Is that the "Immoral/Shallow" thing you're really speaking about ?
Seems to me.....What the "Media" does it's best to dig up on someone from a few decades or so ago, hasn't effected Trumps performance as President, one bit.
All's Well right now. I like that !
Doesn't matter. If I said I agreed with you, you would call me a liar.
Biden got his board "job" BECAUSE of daddy and his position in the US government. Same definition applies to him.
I should have marked this off topic right away.
Enough, everybody, this isn't about the Clintons.
It's about Ivanka tRump.
All's well right now? Are you for real? Now that is one serious case of denial.
What's going "Bad" for America and it's Citizens ?
Off Topic ?
No such person.
[deleted]
Already declared off topic by the author [Split Personality]
It's NOW "Off-Topic" to answer a specific question asked by "THE" Author/Seeder, that wasn't "Flagged' as being Off-Topic for the question ?
The author made a point at 2.2.14 to get everyone back onto the topic of Ivanka Trump,
Which you acknowledged at 2.2.17.
That means that you, being the really smart individual that we know you to be, don't get to respond
to any of the comments prior to that.
[deleted]
[deleted]
removed for context
Well, Ivanka did plagiarize a line of shoes.
So, there's that.
I can see how it's a bit of a reach to invite Ivanka, but it seems like she is the least of CTA's problem. Whether you like Ivanka or not, they should have been able to produce any number of other women speakers either as an alternative to Ivanka or in addition to her. CTA's inability or unwillingness to do so is not about Ivanka. It's about them. Those who focus mainly on Ivanka are ignoring the real problem.
She needs to stick to stealing shoe designs and giving daddy lap dances. I was watching a Ellen clip on You Tube and it featured a 17 yo who has begun her own business. That is the kind of young women who should be heard, not Ivanka the perv grifter.
i don't know, cause if you watched what i watched, couldn't fold a map, look up "Golden Muffler", or dial a phone number on a rotary phone, not exactly high tech, but i get your drift, as i spell IT, IDIOT and i'm sure she doesn't know who Ronny James even was...
Meow to the Nth degree ......