To ask what you think about 'Grid Girls' no longer being used?

[Sallystyle]

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42890261

I think it is a great thing.

Some people on my FB clearly don't.

The vast majority of the women who go for these jobs do so because they are huge fans themselves. The smiles are rarely fake or robotic

Well they look it.
Especially when they have to stand lined up applauding the drivers.

About time. I never understood why they needed to have all those women clapping for the drivers going to the podium either (that action reminded me of performing seals and used to make me cringe).

It doesn't matter whether they're huge fans and they enjoy it. It's a ridiculous 'role'.

Their only purpose is for men to ogle at, to decorate the event. On an individual level these women obviously have no problem with that. But the bigger picture is, every time we use women as decoration for men, it impacts the way women are treated, it prevents women from being taken seriously.

Also how far do we go with saying that if people are ok to do something, then it's all ok to be part of society?

If I'm happy to be exploited and work for £2 an hour, why not? It's my choice surely?

Some people while training work for free and many retired people volunteer. Really it's up to you as to how much you work for.

I'm self employed and often work for £2 an hour on a bad month. It's my choice.

The only logical conclusion I can possibly make about the whole industry ditching a whole cake slice of income like that is to avoid a #MeToo type of scandal.

I know for a fact that the things that go on behind the scenes in that industry would make anyone aghast. Yes, the girls are smiling, they travel, they are paid good money... on the front of it.

But it all mightily stinks below its varnished surface.

Are they also going to get rid of ladies on gameshows who smile and point to the prizes? And magicians' assistants? And any other woman who demonstrates products or services? Is it always offensive or is it only offensive when they're prettier than you?

@Bellamuerte

I hear what you're saying and I can see your point. However, why not let the women run the shows instead of just playing the ornament part? Why not use it to promote awareness of disabilities, inequalities, etc?

Personally, I don't mind them being pretty. Good for them and I really hope they enjoy themselves. What I do object to is using women's bodies as an eye-candy for men's entertainment. What I detest is the system where a pretty woman is just good enough to be used as bait, while any other woman, otherwise amazing, but not enticing enough for men to ogle is treated as subhuman.

Do game shows still have women pointing at the prizes? I haven't seen that for years on UK tv.

Magicians assistants are doing an actual job as part of the magic tricks being performed, either acting as distraction or actually physically part of the trick itself. Demonstrating a product or service is also an actual job, and as far as I've seen can be done by men or women.

"Grid girls" or "podium girls" are not doing any of those things. They are there as decoration and nothing else. It's not offensive, but it does treat the women as objects and as solely decorative. That is not how women should be seen in a society that isn't sexist.

I still don’t like magicians assistants. It just assumes that women are always the assistant to the man.

Love to see more female magicians.

What I detest is the system where a pretty woman is just good enough to be used as bait, while any other woman, otherwise amazing, but not enticing enough for men to ogle is treated as subhuman

It isn't just men who show a preference for attractive women. Clothing models are attractive no matter which website you shop on. The model acts as bait to sell the clothes because women aspire to that look. Some websites have admirably attempted to use more average looking models but that "look" isn't aspirational and hence is less successful in selling the product.

Where does it stop? Is it now going to be banned for any woman to be in a job that relies solely on her looks? Page 3 girls, porn stars, nude models, etc? What about attractive men whose jobs depend on their looks - should male strippers and nude waiters (often hired for hen parties etc) also be banned?

Modelling clothes isn't the same as being a decorative "grid girl". The clothes model is hired to make the clothes look good so people will buy them. They need to look aspirational as you say, so it makes sense to hire a model that looks that way for the job. Men and women need clothes, so male and female clothes models exist.

Page 3 doesn't exist anymore. Porn is a whole massive issue to discuss that would be a big de-rail here. There will be many feminists who object to treatment of women in porn, certainly. Nude models - do you mean the kind who have pictures in Playboy, or the kind that are used for art classes?

I'd be fine with male strippers and nude waiters becoming a thing of the past. Increasing the objectification of men doesn't help anyone.

Just to be clear, it's worth saying again - nothing has been banned. One company has made a commercial decision to stop using women as decorative objects. You may disagree and want sports to be decorated with attractive women, others are free to agree with this company's decision. It's not some massive feminist conspiracy.

Page 3 doesn't exist anymore

Fairly certain it's still in The Sun newspaper every day...

Don't buy or read the Sun. Thought I'd read recently that they'd got rid of Page 3 topless photos, is that not correct?

And any other woman who demonstrates products or services Which products and services were the grid girls demonstrating?

They quietly stopped page 3 a while ago.

So back when I was a law student I paid my fees by doing grid girl work and Max Power promo work etc. At the time I loved it. I only ever wore mini skirts etc, no boobs out!

I was insecure having been bullied for my looks as a young teen. It gave me a confidence boost to have men liking me. I also got paid a fortunate. HOWEVER now, as a more mature adult, I really regret it. I hate the idea of it now and feel somewhat exploited even though I wasn't forced to do it. Had I been more confident, and had more money, I wouldn't have needed to do it. It's sad that I did it just for a confidence boost.

I'm glad it's ending. The world needs to change and young women shouldn't need to gain confidence by being ogled

assassinated

The young lady i saw on page 3 on Saturday may not have been topless but her bikini top was barely on

Ah, so they still have a picture of a pretty woman, just with clothes on instead of topless now. If a bikini that is only just covering her counts as clothes.

Well she looked very pretty with a lovely figure but the slightest gust of wind on a beach and she would have lost the top completely

I’m all for feminism when it comes to equal pay, equal opportunities, equal rights etc. However I am totally against anything that dictates to a woman what she can and can’t do and what society deems to be respectable of her. Something does not become unacceptable just because a man finds it titilating because if so we will be banning all sorts if we basing these things on the reactions of men.

How many times are women told we can wear what we want, and that would shouldn’t be judged for it? How we are supposed to be able to go outdoors or on a night out dressed in as little as we like and not be sexually assaulted? Yet here we are telling these women that they can’t do a job they like, are paid for because of the mysogonistic actions and feeling of men?? I could well understand this issue if grid girls were trafficked, forced or underpaid but they are not, it is a job of their choosing.

Also for those who drew parallels with ring girls in boxing actually having a job to do. How is parading round a ring holding up the round number any different to standing on the F1 grid holding up the drivers number board?? Also if you actually watch F1 (as I do) the majority of grid girls at various races are dressed quiet modestly indeed. Anyone who has a problem with grid girls first needs to direct their attention towards the Darts!!! Also their are plenty of women in F1 who are not just grid girls, there have been women team principles, women test drivers, and there are tons of women who work back at the team HQ’s and development centres who work in technical roles and aerodynamics. F1 has also been having a drive about getting more women into the sport by offering technical apprenticeships, so it’s clear to me it’s not simply the case that F1 takes the view of women being mere ornaments just to look at.

I fear that this is really going to end up going to far and will end up taking from women rather than giving to them.

If as a women I am supposed to able to do what I want, wear what I want, make any career I want, I would seriously take offence at much of this, because this is me as a woman being told. Being told I can’t do this job, I can’t wear a skimpy outfit or any outfit respectable or not because the role is deemed by others to be purely ornamental and simply for the pleasure of men so that they can perpetuate their patriarchy.

Yet again, no one has banned anything. One company has made a commercial decision. Nothing to do with any feminists and not as a result of any kind of feminist campaign.

I'm hoping we can see the same thing a car trade shows where there is invariably a press launch of a new car with a skimpily dressed model draped over the bonnet

Or motorbike shows with girls either side of the bloody bike dressed in shorts and tight cut off logo tee shirts.

Obviously promotors are convinced men must think if they buy this vehicle the woman comes with it....because like the car they are a commodity

It's the message that men do the important, cool, skillful stuff and get to stand heroically on a podium whilst identikit women stand there silent and smiling, that people have a problem with

^ This