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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

No 'grid girls' from 2018 - F1

104 replies

GetShitDone · 31/01/2018 14:44

Liberty, that took over F1 a year or two ago, have decided that they don't fit in with their vision of the sport.

Men are on F1 forums saying they should ask the women, and that it is anti-feminist as it is reducing women's wages.

I don't venture on here often, but I'm interested in your thoughts on this.

OP posts:

PiffIeandWiffle · 03/02/2018 11:34

Women can wear what they want.

Unless it's for a living apparently.

PiffIeandWiffle · 03/02/2018 11:35

Lot's of references to "screeching feminists" on various forums & blogs...

I suppose there's no such thing as bad publicity....

kalapattar · 03/02/2018 11:37

Unless it's for a living apparently

Can you explain why a motor racing event needs grid girls?

AssassinatedBeauty · 03/02/2018 11:47

It's one day of work, they're not being dropped from a full time permanent contract. They will be able to find other work for that one day.

You seem to be determined to ignore the fact that it isn't about what these "grid girls" wear, it's about how they are used to decorate a male dominated sport.

This decision was not made by feminists, "screeching" or otherwise. There has been no active campaign by feminists. The decision was a commercial one taken by a business.

spagbowl · 03/02/2018 12:07

This decision was not made by feminists, "screeching" or otherwise. There has been no active campaign by feminists. The decision was a commercial one taken by a business.

Exactly!
It makes more sense to me that F1 made the change because they didn't want another President's Club scenario in the media.
Possibly concerned about undercover journalists among the grid girls? Big names at F1.

gluteustothemaximus · 03/02/2018 12:08

It could be a bunch of housewives, in their forties, wearing their everyday clothes, holding umbrellas for the men, smiling at them, applauding them when they win.

It would STILL be sexist. It would still be showing women their place, next to men. It would still be outdated and sexist.

It has nothing to do with clothes.

Somehow, I very much doubt though, that the men who love the grid girls, would want an 'average' looking, older woman in normal clothes. And therein lies the problem. And that proves that it is about objectification.

gluteustothemaximus · 03/02/2018 12:09

It makes more sense to me that F1 made the change because they didn't want another President's Club scenario in the media.
Possibly concerned about undercover journalists among the grid girls? Big names at F1.

This with fucking bells on.

Why can't people see beyond this?!

kalapattar · 03/02/2018 12:13

Somehow, I very much doubt though, that the men who love the grid girls, would want an 'average' looking, older woman in normal clothes

I do wonder what the drivers, darts players and boxers feel about this?

Andy Murray is very vocal about feminism - you can't imagine the world of tennis with the winning man being 'adored' by attractive women.

So what do the male drivers think about all this? I wonder if there are any of them with similar beliefs to Andy Murray?

spagbowl · 03/02/2018 12:19

F1 drivers are universally adored by men and women. F1 is the most glamorous sport there is.

whatnow123 · 03/02/2018 12:36

gluteustothemaximus - Exactly. They haven't got rid of them because its outdated. They've got rid of them because some men can't control themselves. It's well known what goes on within the F1 scene.

There is something uncomfortable about the way the grid girls were erased, rather than teaching some of the men to act appropriately.

AssassinatedBeauty · 03/02/2018 12:58

They are outdated. Why would anyone think that using women to decorate men's sport is up to date and modern?

QuentinSummers · 03/02/2018 13:05

I would suggest the sexual objectification of six year old girls
Hmm - think I'd reply along the lines of The sexual objectification of six year old girls is part of the sexual objectification if females as a whole. Much of society sees the purpose of females as looking attractive and beautiful for men. The grid girls are as much a part of this problem as the objectified 6 year old. That's why it's a good thing they are gone.

spagbowl · 03/02/2018 13:11

There is something uncomfortable about the way the grid girls were erased, rather than teaching some of the men to act appropriately.

Yes - the season starts in March. The girls were probably already booked. It's damage limitation.

marioncole · 03/02/2018 13:12

Exactly Quentin. I just couldn't face the debate

whatnow123 · 03/02/2018 13:35

AssassinatedBeauty - They may be outdated but that's not the reason they've been removed.

They've been removed as they dont want a Presidents club style outrage. I dare say Hollywood and other industries are quietly doing the same. Not good.

mypoosmellsofroses · 03/02/2018 13:57

I asked DH about this last night and his response was "about bloody time"

He went on to say that it's embarrassing and dated and his perception is also that they have dropped them in the wake of The Presidents Club, F1 is all about wealth and power and they are clearly well aware of the messaging that having grid girls in that context sends, just a pity it took so long.

He's been an F1 fan for many many years and couldn't give a shiny shit about grid girls, if anything it is an irritating distraction, then again he also gets really huffy and says "Who fucking cares" or words to that effect whenever coverage goes to someones wife or girlfriend at a race, or for that matter when he wants to watch a rugby match and the cameraman feels the need to pan to an attractive woman.

WTF is that about anyway, do television bods really think, "Men watch Rugby, so we'd better give them so eye candy too to keep them entertained" ???

AssassinatedBeauty · 03/02/2018 13:57

That's a supposition. Don't you think it's simply to save money on something that's unnecessary and also perhaps provided an easy win to appear like they're modernising and serious about treating women as equals?

whatnow123 · 03/02/2018 14:22

You could be right. I can't help but think that preventing a Presidents style, undercover sting was also a factor.

spagbowl · 03/02/2018 14:58

'Don't you think it's simply to save money on something that's unnecessary and also perhaps provided an easy win to appear like they're modernising and serious about treating women as equals?'

No. F1 is attended by the very wealthy, major A list celebrities, royalty etc. People would have been nervous about being linked to any kind of scandal. I don't believe for a second that cost comes into it at all.

AssassinatedBeauty · 03/02/2018 15:45

Maybe it is, who knows?

Regardless of the motivation (which certainly isn't feminist or concern over women's rights/equality) it's about time.

kalapattar · 03/02/2018 16:36

It's amazing how many men are upset about this - they seem to really care about these women and their choice to work in this industry.

I am sure it's got nothing to do with wanting to ogle beautiful women.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 03/02/2018 17:14

mypoosmellsofroses
My DH is the same. He's been saying for years the grid girls are an embarrassing anachronism.
As for showing women in the audience at rugby matches, I'm split on that. It's good to see females are there, better than mostly male football crowds. And it isn't always the attractive ones they show.

Mumsymcmumface · 03/02/2018 18:55

Why are people going on about women not getting a chance in F1?

They get the same chance anyone else would, do get that chance you need a lot of money even to do karting never mind the higher formulas.

Teams are actively looking for a talented woman to bring through. Can you imagine the extra pr, and advertising appeal if a team unearthed the F1 equivalent of Michelle mouton? Danika Patrick in the US is a pr and advertising dream but simply isn’t as good as lots of the men.

PiffIeandWiffle · 03/02/2018 20:29

Why are people going on about women not getting a chance in F1?

Because they're desperate to believe that, if these women weren't "forced" to do this demeaning glamour work, they'd all be fucking awesome racing car drivers or darts players or Moto GP Riders.......

Whereas in reality the women that want to do this already have the chance to do so if they want to....

Mumsymcmumface · 03/02/2018 21:27

Anyone who thinks a motorsport team at any level, given the choice between two equally talented drivers of different sexes, wouldn’t pick the female in preference to the male is deluded.

It’s a perfect case of the exact opposite of discrimination against women as it would be an absolute dream come true for the team owners, manager, sponsors and PR people.

Yet people still think women are being discriminated against!! Bonkers

Sometimes they are, sometimes men are. Anyone who thinks women are discriminated against in motorsport is a bit stupid and just looking for a reason to be offended.

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