THREAD: Not sure if any of you have been following what's going on in the craft beer industry - but a social media campaign is revealing some pretty intense stories about sexism, sexual harassment in a male dominated field....
The Instagram user RatMagnet, a female brewer from Massachusetts posted a question last week after her credentials to work in the brewhouse were questioned twice in the same day... she asked "what sexist comments have you experienced?"
Thousands of comments came in - most detailing disgusting comments men have made in taprooms and behind the scenes at breweries. Some detailed harsh working conditions. Others detailed specific claims of assault and harassment. It's led to some prominent brewers stepping down...
Local brewers started sharing their experiences. @BetsyLay, who owns @LadyJusticeBrew in Aurora, told us she was doxxed after giving a talk about sexism in beer at Inspire Boulder.
https://twitter.com/BetsyLay/status/1393898215221702656?s=20
Lay told me yesterday that after a few beers at festivals, guys ask a lot of stupid and disgusting questions: do beers come with sandwiches? does the yeast from from their female anatomy? why not call it "man justice"?
Lay admits she's never had to deal with the darker stuff...
Lay admits she's never had to deal with the darker stuff...
That brings me to Bess Dougherty. She's been brewing in Denver since 2012 - most recently at @ratiobeerworks since February.
Beth says she spent about four hours locked in a panic attack this weekend reading some of these social media accounts. They were triggering...
Beth says she spent about four hours locked in a panic attack this weekend reading some of these social media accounts. They were triggering...
Bess says she remembers pouring her beer at her first festival. She got all dressed up. She was excited to share beer she had actually brewed.
She was met immediately with questions from beer bros about whether she was a hired "promo girl"...whether she even liked beer.
She was met immediately with questions from beer bros about whether she was a hired "promo girl"...whether she even liked beer.
Then the horrific started happening. She said she's lost count of how many times she's been groped at beer festivals - by both attendees and people in the industry.
Then, she told me a former co-worker raped her after one of these events.
Then, she told me a former co-worker raped her after one of these events.
"It’s just one of those impossible feeling situations because all the boys stick together… this is their house and I’m coming in. I’m just trying to do my job. I’m trying to make beer," Bess said of the sexual assault by her co-worker.
It traumatized her so much she stopped dating for five years and had to seek counseling. She didn't talk about it publicly until recently, for fear of retribution and what it might mean for the job she loves dearly.
Other than a taste here and there, she's stopped drinking at beer festivals.
"I don’t want to give that as an excuse for what might happen to me. It’s heartbreaking that we have to do things like that to feel safe just doing our jobs."
"I don’t want to give that as an excuse for what might happen to me. It’s heartbreaking that we have to do things like that to feel safe just doing our jobs."
Bess started a private Facebook page years ago for women in the industry to connect and share stories of the horrible things that happened to them. But they kept most of it private, again for fear of retribution. She said it's wonderful to see these stories shared publicly.
Both Dougherty and Lay say the industry needs to do something about this pervasive problem. The Boulder-based Brewer's Association trade group has taken heat for not doing enough as these stories continue to become public....
The Association told me yesterday they're working on gathering resources for brewers to fix these problems. Lay and Dougherty hope this moment will force brewers to attack the issue head on. Lay is planning a forum for next week:
https://twitter.com/BetsyLay/status/1394656437587128320?s=20
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