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.

Who loves standing around smiling and maybe holding an umbrella for grown adult men? A job they love my arse.

I've read the first 100 posts on this and as a F1 armchair fan, I have to say I think it's a good thing. I fail to see what a continuous row of women applauding three blokes who have just placed at a race as they make their way to the cool-down room actually adds to the event.

Personally speaking, I'd love to see grid girls and guys. If it's a job that models do, why not employ female and male models to cheer on the F1 drivers, to carry the flags, to hold the grid position numbers etc.??

Now, back to the rest of the thread....

I'm after reading your post @LightDrizzle that you made on Thursday last (1 Feb at 8:18am) and have to say it is entirely sensible and completely right. Just thought I'd add that.

Who loves standing around smiling and maybe holding an umbrella for grown adult men? A job they love my arse.

I'd do it, meet the drivers, how to the race, see the cars up close and maybe get to go to parties after. If only they wanted a middle aged bloke with a beer belly

In my childhood the Black and White Minstrel show was on prime time TV on Sunday night. Perfectly acceptable family entertainment in those long ago days.
Then (it seemed to be overnight but I was young) everyone saw how awful it really was and the show was scrapped forever.
I see this grid girls/page 3 etc in the same light. In 50 years people will look back and think WTF was Society thinking of.

And IIRC there were plenty of objections to it being scrapped as it was "harmless" and "they're all being put out of work" etc.

Suggest it then gunny If it’s about simply having people willing to hold umbrellas and smile inanely to get up close to the F1 circuit then I see no reason why what sex you are or what you look like should stop you - it’s like being a glorified lollipop person isn’t it? If grid people are so integral to the F1 experience it shouldn’t matter if they’re middle aged blokes with beer bellies and no hair. In fact, as they’d better represent the average fan it might be good for the sport for fans to see themselves represented on the circuit. Something to aspire to.

I'd do it, meet the drivers, how to the race, see the cars up close and maybe get to go to parties after. If only they wanted a middle aged bloke with a beer belly

It does sound like fun, for a fan of the sport.. I say let's have grid boys and girls!

HandbagKrabby - Yes, some of the women do love it and I'm sure some handsome guys would enjoy it too. Clearly, it's a glamourous sport and they want glamourous people at these events. It's basically a modelling job - like a glossy magazine it portrays glossy image. Clearly it would matter if they were middle aged blokes with beer bellies - walk down the high street if that's what you want to see.

Handbag not sure you got the point of my post. I didn't advocate support for grid girls, nor did I say it was just about holding signs.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if they did replace them with male models.

BTW I still have hair thanks.

Oh, my wish has come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

F1 are replacing the grid girls with grid kids!!!!!

Boys and Girls!!!

YAY!!! Progress. I'm so happy

If it’s a lovely job that appeals to a wide range of people then why shouldn’t a wide range of people do it? I don’t think F1 fans or workers specifically need smiling young women holding the umbrellas but it sounds like many people would appreciate the opportunity to be part of the circuit. It could be like the kids that lead football teams on - something nice and inclusive for the fans.

Or it could be about providing yet more opportunities for everyone to see conventionally attractive young women as props to or prizes for men’s success. Because it’s not like there’s enough of that already.

X post

grid kids

Awesome, I'll volunteer my children (assuming mum and dad get to go)

Handbag - the reason a wide range of people can't do it is the same reason a wide range of people are not top models.

It's basically a modelling job - I'd like to see men doing it too.

Grid Kids!!! What a brilliant turn out. It'll be amazing. Just like when footie teams use young mascots.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42950040

Great result all round

Let's face facts it's a job which relies on women being decorative for men. Bringing in male models will never happen since it wouldn't appeal to their target audience.

Well it looks like those top models have been replaced by children doesn’t it? Which shows the skill level expected and training required to be a grid person is minimal. And also shows the people doing the role do not have the be sexually attractive in order to do the role to an acceptable standard. Who knew?

Fantastic news

Great for the children involved

What is so wrong about a woman (or man), who is fully aware that she (or he) is hot, choosing to earn money by showing off their hot body to admiring men and women? They do so willingly. They are not coerced. And it doesn’t define who they are... I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the grid girls have more about them academically/intellectually than their critics! Although I’m hardly a model, I’m not bad looking, and feel great when I make the effort to look good and people notice. Why take that away from these attractive women who’ve put in the hours to look like they do.

It is this neo-Puritanism that gives feminism a bad name!

I'm glad the "grid girls" have gone but appalled they are being replaced by children. The women have been ditched because they are being objectified, but somehow F1 thinks it's fine to objectify children instead? It's like fucking "Minipops" or something.

There are things that are perfectly capably of holding a flag or car number. They're called poles, nobody gets aroused by them, nobody objectifies them, they work all day without needing breaks or being paid.

Grid girls gone? Fantastic. "Grid kids" instead? For fucks sake!!!

The decision was nothing to do with feminists, just to repeat that again.

Of course it's fine to want to look attractive and get appreciation from others who notice, if that's your choice. The part you're not addressing is that only women were used as "grid girls". Why?

coconutella - couldn't agree more!

Football has kid mascots, doesn't it? I don't see the issue assuming it won't involve inappropriate clothes.

@ChelleDawg2020 why would the children be objectified? They're presumably not going to be dressed in sexualised outfits and be encouraged to pose?

They'll be the same as the children they use in football matches as mascots, or the children used in athletics competitions to carry out the athletes clothes box etc etc. A sensible outfit would be an overall a bit like the pit crew and the drivers wear, like football mascots wear replica kit.

Oh god. Twitter outrage at grid kids and how peados will love it.

WTF?? If people think peados are going to letch over grid kids, then it proves they letched over gridgirls. But then that’s obvious.

Coconutella - again - no one has an issue with beautiful women making money from looks.

It is the ‘girls only’ approach that forces the attitudes of women being treated badly because we are seen as objects. If there were grid boys and girls, it would be different.