to think that the idea of women as 'decoration' for the male gaze in sports like F1 and boxing is outdated?

[kalapattar]

Formula One has its 'grid girls' -- women who stand in front of the cars holding up numbers and mingling with the sponsors - as well as those who award the winner with a kiss

Boxing has its 'round girls' - women who walk around the ring holding the round number

Cycling has its 'podium girls'.

Then there's 'booth babes' - used famously at Las Vegas tech show to attract male customers to the booths for the different clients.

www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/01/12/ces-booth-babes-less-obvious-but-theyre-not-gone/1029060001/

Isn't this all just a little bit outdated? Why do these companies need beautiful, young women to mingle with their (mainly male ) sponsors, give awards to their male winners, and to pose at their conferences?

I agree. It's outdated. And if fans (male) don't approve why don't they say?? We went to a great indoor motor cross last year, but they did all the faff with the dolly girls and it's completely put me off going this year.

Well darts and F1 are shit 'sports' anyway so vote with your eyes and don't watch them. Rugby is starting soon and you won't see any women parading around there, just some small children used as Mascots and having the day of their lives.

Were she around today Susan B Anthony might reconsider her statement that cycling 'has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world'

Darts has banned 'walk on girls'

www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/darts-walk-on-girls-pdc-masters-milton-keynes-tv-itv-a8180876.html

Last year, world number one Michael van Gerwen predicted the move, saying in an interview with AD Sportwereld: "The PDC wants more people to see it as a sport. It does not interest me (walk-on girls). It is just a sport."

The move has triggered a petition to reinstate the girls. On Friday night it had over 3,000 signatures and was backed by former world champion Raymond van Barneveld. "I will really miss the girls !! For me they are a part of the darts," he wrote