My sister, let’s call her Kuzechka (emphasis on the first syllable, belongs to an international association of business leaders. She has recently traveled to the association’s conference in Amsterdam, and here are some of her observations:
1. On the positive side, all of the Dutch businesses leaders speak sensationally good English.
2. On the negative side, was everything else:
A. Compared to the global vision of the North American chapter of the association, the Western European chapter presented a very parochial approach.
B. Western European business leaders (mostly, Dutch and German) express an intense admiration of North American business but can’t hope to match it because their openness to new ideas is low. The general approach to everything is that of scepticism, which contrasts with the American enthusiasm.
C. The association constantly bemoans the low number of female business leaders among its members. Still, the Dutch chapter decided that it would be a good idea to surprise its members in the midst of the conference with a strip tease number performed by sex workers. Kuzechka says something like this is absolutely unthinkable at the North American chapter of the organization.
“Jeez, don’t tell me the strippers were Eastern European,” I said to Kuzechka.
“Worse,” she replied. “They were women of color.”
When Kuzechka expressed her dismay at this development, the Dutch organizers responded with, “We are very liberal here, in the Netherlands.” Apparently, the Dutch definition of liberalism is that of an old white boys’ club sexually serviced by non-white women.
During the break, the Dutch businessmen gleefully gossiped about the horrible prevalence of sexism in the United States and were taken aback by Kuzechka ‘s suggestion that their own sexism is quite evident, as well.
D. Everybody in Western Europe is a lot more interested in what is happening in Ukraine than people in North America are. However, the main idea everybody expresses is, “Putin sucks but let’s not anger him. Our government angered Putin with sanctions, and now he won’t buy our tomatoes.”
As a North American business leader, Kuzechka was puzzled by the idea that business leaders are expecting the government to scare up customers for their businesses.
Conclusion: it is not surprising that North American business owns the world. Even the best competition is not that impressive.
Clarissa's Blog 
I think when the Europeans said ‘liberal’ they meant less prudish. Of course, you can be less prudish *and* sexist.
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“I think when the Europeans said ‘liberal’ they meant less prudish. Of course, you can be less prudish *and* sexist.”
– I think you are right. Of course, to us, Liberal has a very specific political meaning, and that meaning doesn’t include this sort of thing.
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Still, the Dutch chapter decided that it would be a good idea to surprise its members in the midst of the conference with a strip tease number performed by sex workers
Did they offer complimentary bongs? Or would that have been considered unprofessional?
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“Did they offer complimentary bongs? Or would that have been considered unprofessional?”
– Are bongs something like dildos? Or do they have to do with pot?
I am very innocent.
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\\ “Did they offer complimentary bongs? Or would that have been considered unprofessional?”
– Are bongs something like dildos? Or do they have to do with pot?
I thought he meant “sex,” but then checked:
“A bong (also water pipe, billy, bing, or moof) is a filtration device generally used for smoking cannabis, tobacco, or other herbal substances.”
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“I thought he meant “sex,” but then checked:”
– You and I have dirty minds, it seems. 🙂
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I mentioned bongs because Amsterdam has extremely permissive marijuana laws.
You could use a bong as a dildo but why would you?
“You should totally open up a coffee shop with “coffee.”
“Yes, that’s already been tried.”
“What about strippers and coffee.”
“Already done.”
“But…strippers and bongs and coffee and ‘coffee’!
“Cheech and Chong is not a documentary.”
Poor Kuzechka, surrounded by people who have stupid frat boy business ideas.
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Being in the world of high – powered business is already not that welcoming to women. The experience of being the only woman in the room, plus a young and a beautiful one, is difficult. But the people in Amsterdam took it to an entirely different level.
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“Still, the Dutch chapter decided that it would be a good idea to surprise its members in the midst of the conference with a strip tease number performed by sex workers.”
The British wouldn’t dare do that. Neither the French and the German and the Irish. So not the whole WE is the same. It’s only the Netherlands and Switzerland in WE where public prostitution is encouraged. In Switzerland even child prostitution is legal (up from 16 ys old). Then they come to Eastern Europe to make documentary films about the background of the perverse 16 ys old roma girls who were usually sold by their father/brothers to the Swiss pimps, and most of them are absolutely powerless. However nobody makes documentary films about the respectable Swiss businessmen who actually have a real choice, or about the Swiss government who openly supports this shame.
“business leaders are expecting the government to scare up customers for their businesses”
I think it’s the WE governments who can be blamed for this attitude. They constantly want to force their “support programs” on business owners, send the letters and advices about them (at least in the UK, I don’t have experience with other WE countries). Business owners just get used to it, and after a while they even expect it. North America doesn’t want to “help” to its businesses, it just leaves them to act by their own. That’s the best approach (both for the businesses and the state).
“Western European business leaders (mostly, Dutch and German) express an intense admiration of North American business but can’t hope to match it because their openness to new ideas is low.”
They serve different markets. The Americans tend to try out new things in a much higher ratio. They are more risk-taking and many of them deliberately seek out novelty. That’s not the case in WE. Businesses have to adapt to the markets they serve, or they sink.
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The Swiss law has actually been changed this summer. But it is apalling that it took so long. After living in Holland for 3 years I agree that the Dutch society can be surprisingly sexist; women seem very self-confident and emancipated, but they only work full – time rarely and I got a lot of weird reactions for being ambitious as a woman in Holland. The striptease thing seems extreme though.
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“The Swiss law has actually been changed this summer.”
Really? I didn’t know that. At least something positive. Thanks for mentioning it.
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“After living in Holland for 3 years I agree that the Dutch society can be surprisingly sexist; women seem very self-confident and emancipated, but they only work full – time rarely and I got a lot of weird reactions for being ambitious as a woman in Holland.”
– How strange. I am very ignorant about Western Europe, outside of Spain, of course. So this is fascinating to me.
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“The British wouldn’t dare do that. Neither the French and the German and the Irish. So not the whole WE is the same.”
– Still, the only person of either gender who actively protested was my Kuzechka.
“In Switzerland even child prostitution is legal (up from 16 ys old). Then they come to Eastern Europe to make documentary films about the background of the perverse 16 ys old roma girls who were usually sold by their father/brothers to the Swiss pimps, and most of them are absolutely powerless. However nobody makes documentary films about the respectable Swiss businessmen who actually have a real choice, or about the Swiss government who openly supports this shame.”
– I had no idea. How horrible.
“North America doesn’t want to “help” to its businesses, it just leaves them to act by their own. That’s the best approach (both for the businesses and the state).”
– Agreed. 🙂
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Damn there are a lot of jobs in my field in Amsterdam and it’s supposed to be a lovely city. Would outposts of American companies in Amsterdam be better?
Does anyone know if Zurich would be as bad?
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On the positive side, imagine how pathetic the competition will be for somebody like you. You will do great.
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If an American business decided to surprise people at a conference with strippers, I suspect it would eventually end up finding its way as a plot point onto a Law & Order: SVU episode that tied in with white-collar crime.
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Ha ha ha. Great point!!!
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