to wonder why the female co-presenter on Countdown has to dress like a stripper

[hamtastrophe]

Just that.

Is this 2013? Just utterly depressing.

[Hullygully]

Of course she can.

That isn't the issue.

it's the face she is EXPECTED to wear such clothes as part of her job while men aren't.

[SpicyPear]

It says a lot about some posters hully that your satirical posts were less ridiculous than the real ones.

[CrumbyCrumbs]

"it's the face she is EXPECTED to wear such clothes as part of her job while men aren't."

I'm sure if you asked Nick very nicely he would be happy to wear a mini dress.. :D

And they're not expected to wear them, the bosses have spoke out saying they don't agree with some of her outfits.

[Hullygully]

Is that true?

Blimey.

What is up with her then?

[MurderOfGoths]

"And they're not expected to wear them, the bosses have spoke out saying they don't agree with some of her outfits."

That's the problem with singling out individuals, every circumstance is different.

It doesn't however change the fact that in general women are expected to look a certain way, especially if they want to succeed in areas like media.

[SpicyPear]

I think it's bollocks. The same article (DM link below) says she goes shopping for dresses with a stylist from the show. I imagine it's a bit of Ch 4 PR in response to negative attention regarding her clothes. "Not us guv, we'd never encourage our presenters to dress like that"

[LesBOFerables]

Maybe it's got something to do with getting set up for a career outside Countdown? Like the route that female children's tv presenters have often taken to break into the mainstream: sexy FHM photoshoots. The women aren't creating the demand for these images, but they know that it's the main way to garner media attention to boost their career, so they play the system. A lot of people on this thread are criticising the OP for 'judging' this woman's looks, when she is bemoaning the entire edifice which dictates that women's sexiness to men is the main way to get ahead. That is a demonstration of women's lack of real power in society, not their strength. All this phoney empowerment stuff about 'Oh, I enjoy my sexuality, I make choices blah blah" is obscuring the fact that if we were equal with men, they'd be dolling up on screen or swinging round poles too, and they ain't.

[MurderOfGoths]

"they'd be dolling up on screen"

Totally OT and inappropriate but, oh I wish. If things could shift so men wore makeup etc on screen I'd be one happy girl.

[SparkyTGD]

Me too Murder

Older (ahem) women need some eye candy too

[CrumbyCrumbs]

LesBOFerables what does swinging round poles have to do with this? We're talking about wearing revealing clothing, not pole dancing! And pole dancing is actually a lovely artform when done well. I don't think the issue here is actually the one it seems, it's something entirely different.

I have never been treated in an unequal way to men.

[LesBOFerables]

It's part of the rhetoric of "empowerment" that gets used by/ab

[LesBOFerables]

about women. And Im not talking about art forms, I'm taking about raunch culture. Excuse typos, on phone.

[AnyFucker]

Who are all these women on Mumsnet recently coming out of the woodwork to deny the existence of sexism and misogyny ?

How have they been made ? What world have they been living in ?

[Hullygully]

a lovely art form when done well

WAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

nice try

[PickledInAPearTree]

Horrible mental images of brucie doing Alan partridge-esque lap dance .

[CrumbyCrumbs]

You have obviously never seen it done properly. Stop stereotyping people your so judgemental!

[MurderOfGoths]

"pole dancing is actually a lovely artform when done well"

Don't know about an art form, but it can be incredibly impressive in terms of physical ability/strength/balance. That side of it is truly amazing. I saw some fantastic pole dancing at an exhibition once (they were modestly dressed and not doing any grinding/humping) and was in absolute awe of the talent these women had!

However, most of the time, the pole dancing you see is people basically mimicking sexual positions or getting into positions which are designed primarily to show off the genitals. Which is not something you'd be likely to see men doing.

[Birdsgottafly]

The same could be said for gymnastics, it is a pity that we allowed every form of expressive art to be sexualised, or that people see it that way.

Many top pole dancers go on to perform with the Cirque du Soleil.

[Harriet35]

I think saying she dresses like a stripper is a bit OTT but she does dress very sexily. I think the programmers wanted to attract a younger audience. I don't see why female presenters should be ashamed of their bodies and feel like they have to cover themselves up.

[Harriet35]

Victorian men saw table legs in a sexual way. I don't think you can stop the male brain from thinking about sex, or that you'd want to.

[MidnightMasquerader]

"I don't see why female presenters should be ashamed of their bodies and feel like they have to cover themselves up."

I agree with that sentiment in theory, but it doesn't pan out in practice.

When we see men rushing to present TV shows in hot pants and décolletage-plunging vests, exposing as much of their flesh as they possible can, then I'll fully agree with the sentiment.

Oddly, men are not rushing to do this...

[MrsBucketxx]

Would we really want to see Nick in hot pants hhhhmmmm I think not.

Personally I wont want to see half naked men, most are average at best.

[EugenesAxe]

YANBU... I always think that. She is so beautiful and could look very sexy without having to stray into the realms of 'tart'.

I always think Susie Dent looks amazing, in her beautiful, sexy, non-tart clothing and wish that Rachel could do too.
I think aesthetically a short skirt is best for Rachel, but honestly, does it have to be 6 inches or so above her knee? Why not 1 or 2?

[BegoniaBampot]

caught it today. she looked lovely and much classier.maybe she's been reading mumsnet.