Formula 1

[HotBurrito1]

Was just playing with my boys when I noticed that the telly had images of scantily clad women holding brollies over fully dressed male F1 competitors in the rain. When I say scantily clad, think leather mini skirt, bare midriff and leather halter bra -not standard wet weather clobber (at least I've never seen the like in the waterproofs section of Millets).

I never normally watch F1, so I don't know if this is usual, but I was annoyed to suddenly see this on the screen. Obviously, I can (and did) switch off. I really didn't want my boys to see the dubious message which was basically:'stand there in your bra, hold the brolly and look sexy love, whilst the men actually do something'. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

perfectly standard F1 - there probably is a more sexist 'sport' but can't think of one

Why would they need to be wearing wet weather clobber though?

Fatima, well perhaps not wellies and a mac, but it was raining. I never go out in me bra in the rain, do you?

Kim, what happens when they present the prizes in boxing?

It was a lovely day it silver stone not a drop of rain in sight. [Confused] It is pretty standard to see the girls at f1 dressed like that.

There is a new campaign on twitter about this nopodiumgirls!

What rain?

Sorry, I just checked the TV listings and it wasn't formula 1 . It was Moto GP. There were no vehicles on screen on the bit I saw. Should have checked my facts.

Point still stands as a general thing though. That's interesting zigzoo, thanks.

Darts is just as bad, the players are accompanied up to the stage on a walkway through the crowd by scantily clad ladies who do a little wiggley dance on the stage before the match starts. It is really depressing that this stuff still happens, feels like a throwback to the 70s or something.

ahh right, that's what confused me. Thinking that in the sun they should be stood wearing a big mac and galoshes

I know in World Superbikes, a few of them have there wife/girlfriend stood with the brolly but they don't tend to be scantily clad (apart from the girlfriend who is an Italian model).

There are a few female bikers, I wonder who they have holding their brollies

Don't lovely ladies in their knickers hand over yellow jerseys etc in Tour de France?

Makes me want to throw up, too. Here's your prize - oh, and look at her tits!

Clearly the job pays well as there are females willing to do it.

the tour de france girls usually wear dresses. It is beach volleyball players who are in their knickers - admittedly they are doing the sport. Strangely men can play in shorts without hampering the game.

funny old world.

It's a job, she's chosen to do it, power to her. Long as she's happy and not coerced in to the attire I don't see a problem. I'm sure she's aware she's seen as an object, to suggest otherwise would be insulting, and she must be comfortable with this.

These podium women come from modelling agencies. Modelling, like any other agency-based work, is not based on models actively choosing their assignments. Models are offered work and accept it if it is worth their while. This will obviously depend on how busy and in-demand a particular model is, and whether her schedule and profile allow her (or him, if we're talking about modelling in general) to exercise any active choice. Models at the "lower" levels of their profession get very little choice of assignment, if they want to pursue modelling full-time and support themselves.

My general opinion is that podium girls, brolly dollies, round-card girls and their ilk should really have been consigned to the cultural dustbin by now.

Once you've made the link between spraying the champagne everywhere as the climax of the race and well... Imagine the rest... You never really watch the podium in the same way again...

Saidar and specialsubject care to apply a little more thinking to the issue?

Of course some women will be willing to be the sports models for money...why wouldn't they? They get paid and they get admiration. Lovely!

Well yes, but that obviously (when one cares to apply thinking) reinforces the idea that women are only worth their looks... while men are worth their ability.

Hence the fact that many women are sidelined at an age when men are doing very well.

It all reinforces the idea that women are decorative (hence worthless if they are 'judged' ugly) and men are active (hence worthless if they are weak/short/disabled).

Which feeds through to the everyday...i.e let's employ good looking people, judge ugly people, super-judge women etc...

Auntpepeita Well, now you've mentioned it...aint no woman ever sprayed that champagne over a loada blokes!

I can't believe men are better drivers than women...I can believe men are given a lot more opportunities to drive better than women...

I believe they are referred to as Pit Babes.

I've applied the thinking, thanks though. It's something I like or condone. However, after more thought, I am uncomfortable telling any woman you can't wear/do that, you're making women look bad. There's enough of that as it is.

Just because a woman is dressed a certain way doesn't mean she's only good for her looks. If that's the way she's perceived them the problem is with the person looking. We should be changing our way of thinking not what we wear.

I doubt that those who are happy to take cash for these jobs are really that bothered about how it affects the perception of women.

clearly the money is sufficient that they don't mind being regarded as airheaded bimbos by quite a lot of us. Women are also prepared to starve and walk in stupid clothes for money. Don't tell me that these are the only jobs available.

all we can do is teach the daughters that they are better than this, and that models, reality TV stars and cheerleaders for sport are NOT what they should aspire to be.