At Voi Colonna Hotel: A Chocolate-Covered Girl in the Buffet – A Deplorable Display of Misogyny

I find myself appalled and deeply incensed by the disgraceful and humiliating event that took place at the Voi Colonna Hotel in Golfo Aranci. The described scene of a woman, an employee, reduced to an object in a buffet, completely covered in chocolate, is an affront to everything that stands for women’s emancipation and human dignity.

The hotel’s apologies and remorseful words, or Voi Hotels’ response, are not enough. We cannot and must not accept such sordid and degrading acts. This is not just an insult to the woman involved but to all women and, indeed, to our entire society.

A ‘chocolate statue’? A grotesque excuse and a shameful display! What message are we sending to young girls, like the 14-year-old present, forced to witness such an outrage? Her comment, ‘Dad, how disgusting, this is not a country where you can accomplish anything,’ echoes in our minds and shakes our hearts.

VOIhotels’ declared intention to take immediate action is mere words. Our indignation must translate into action. It is our duty, as consumers and as society, to demand a radical change in mindset and behavior.

The incident at the Voi Colonna Hotel is a blot on our social progress, a glaring sign of a culture still steeped in sexism and misogyny. We cannot tolerate a woman’s body being equated to dishware to please someone’s lascivious eye.

Boycotting is a strong signal, a way to say enough to the objectification and denigration of women. We must not remain silent. Our voice must be loud and clear: respect, dignity, and equality for all women, always and everywhere.

Education, role models, training, and genuine outrage are the weapons with which to fight occurrences like this. Conscious that the full understanding and practice of our values is an ongoing journey, we must not hesitate to tread this path, fighting tirelessly for a world where every person is respected in their integrity and dignity.