I think the word ban is being thrown around as a carry over from the last thread about podium girls... I don't think this type of "modelling" will ever be illegal because they and their employers are not doing anything against the law.

Despite the difference of views - I appreciate that there is a conversation being held about this topic. It is always good to have these conversations cuz otherwise, we get stuck in our own silos and ways of thinking. Despite the small amount of mud-slinging, it has been a very thoughtful conversation from both sides.

But really - is anyone going to stop watching F1 or TdF because there are no more podium girls? People are using the argument that there's no harm having them there when yeah, there actually is - it's part of the publicity machine that re-enforces stereotypes of a historically marginalised group. The need for podium girls is now outdated - I think that society has moved on from objectifying pretty girls and treating them as if they're men's trophies, because that's what these girls are essentially (except the guy can't take her home and put her on the mantelpiece, but I suppose they are standing on his podium).

If you tell your daughters or nieces that this is so over the top PC and tell them that these podium girls don't look subservient at all (kiss the guy on the cheek, stand there and look pretty but don't speak, make sure you show some skin too).. what do you think these girls are going to grow up thinking about themselves and expectations of who they should be and what they're capable of doing (no no... not the person winning the race, you're the wrong gender).

This has nothing to do with sexiness, being prudish or not. It is about perpetuating stereotypes and having strong role models for our girls to look up to.

What's the harm of not having them there? That these girls won't have jobs with great perks and kiss sweaty guys on their cheeks while millions of men ogle them? They can't do what they want to do? Not really strong points as all jobs and industries evolve to stay relevant. Podium girls = irrelevant.

I almost went blind because my eyes rolled so far back into my head reading this.

It was 2+ cents. Great attention to detail A1.
My thoughts and prayers are with your plight.

I think we have two conflicting types of feminism here. On one hand, folks want to limit podium girl roles in order to steer society toward a different beauty ideal, which is physically or intellectually stronger and productive of real goods and services, not just "eye candy." I grew up in this version of feminism-- the message I heard was, "women can do anything, so women should be lawyers, doctors, athletes, etc."

The other feminists (including me) have decided that if women can truly do anything, then they can be housewives or podium girls too.

If you want to truly respect your nieces' and daughters' individuality and mental capabilities, expose them to the idea that they can be anything, including lawyers, doctors, athletes, housewives and podium girls. You can discuss the pros and cons of each.

My idea of a strong role model for girls is a woman who exemplifies civility, honesty, personal accountability, confidence, resilience, willingness to work hard and perseverance. I honestly don't care what profession she chooses.

I almost went blind because my eyes rolled so far back into my head reading this.

What's next, are they going to get rid of the bouquets of flowers because we only use them for their beauty? We going to replace them with a nice shrubbery?

You mentioned in one of your posts that it's the men who objectify that needs to be fixed - so putting aside podium girls not being the best role models for girls, what do you think the boys watching TdF or F1 with their dads will grow up thinking when they see a "girl" (not a woman) act like a human trophy? If this happens, I'd hope the father would have a conversation with the kid ...

I think we have two conflicting types of feminism here. On one hand, folks want to limit podium girl roles in order to steer society toward a different beauty ideal, which is physically or intellectually stronger and productive of real goods and services, not just "eye candy." I grew up in this version of feminism-- the message I heard was, "women can do anything, so women should be lawyers, doctors, athletes, etc."

The other feminists (including me) have decided that if women can truly do anything, then they can be housewives or podium girls too.

If you want to truly respect your nieces' and daughters' individuality and mental capabilities, expose them to the idea that they can be anything, including lawyers, doctors, athletes, housewives and podium girls. You can discuss the pros and cons of each.

My idea of a strong role model for girls is a woman who exemplifies civility, honesty, personal accountability, confidence, resilience, willingness to work hard and perseverance. I honestly don't care what profession she chooses.

It was 2+ cents. Great attention to detail A1.
My thoughts and prayers are with your plight.

....So I have no beef with a woman deciding to take the gig of podium girl. As I said above, who would not like to get paid to be the center of attention and hang out with big wigs and get their photo taken. So more power to them of they want that job. I'm just saying that as a society member and a stakeholder in sport in general, I actually don't want that job to exist. But if it exists, I don't have any opposition to someone taking it and enjoying it. My beef is with race organizers, not with the podium girls.

CalamityJane88 wrote:

I think we have two conflicting types of feminism here. On one hand, folks want to limit podium girl roles in order to steer society toward a different beauty ideal, which is physically or intellectually stronger and productive of real goods and services, not just "eye candy." I grew up in this version of feminism-- the message I heard was, "women can do anything, so women should be lawyers, doctors, athletes, etc."

The other feminists (including me) have decided that if women can truly do anything, then they can be housewives or podium girls too.

If you want to truly respect your nieces' and daughters' individuality and mental capabilities, expose them to the idea that they can be anything, including lawyers, doctors, athletes, housewives and podium girls. You can discuss the pros and cons of each.

My idea of a strong role model for girls is a woman who exemplifies civility, honesty, personal accountability, confidence, resilience, willingness to work hard and perseverance. I honestly don't care what profession she chooses.

Yesterday, she was wearing those stockings that have the seam in the back of the legs. Who wears those? I LOVE her passion for these things, although I don't personally care for any of them.

Dev, I'm glad you posted on this topic again. I like to read what you write.

Do you really not want the podium girl gig to exist?

I think I've mentioned somewhere that my daughter's 5th Grade teacher really loves diet Pepsi and high heels. That's how she introduces herself to her students at the beginning of the year. Her committment to high heels is extraordinary. She wears them when she does safety patrol and on field trips. The kids have gone on tall ships and to legoland. She goes to legoland in high heels!! Yesterday, she was wearing those stockings that have the seam in the back of the legs. Who wears those? I LOVE her passion for these things, although I don't personally care for any of them.

How boring would the world be without people's quirky interests? (Hello! Triathon?)

It's funny all the people objecting don't listen to all the podium girls who have a great life experience and get to meet a lot of people they may never have. Society too PC in my opinion but that's just me.

It's funny all the people objecting don't listen to all the podium girls who have a great life experience and get to meet a lot of people they may never have.

Former host Lein Crapoen explained the role she and other women play at the races.

“Some people don’t seem to realize that my work is much more than looking beautiful on the podium,” Crapoen told Belgian’s Sporza in 2017.

“I’m part of the event’s organisation. The victory ceremony is only part of it. I give the flowers, but it is more than that. I think of it as hostess work. I escort other people on stage for the camera angles, and so on. That’s the difference, for example, with a beauty pageant. Those are just a meat inspection.”

Have you ever seen just too much? It makes you feel, "ewwgh." ... I didn't really want to have to see them, but there they were. Forever just sitting there.