'Podium Girls' in pro cycling...

A different perspective:;

http://inrng.com/2013/07/tour-de-france-podium-hostess-interview/

I can't even imagine Froome pinching his wife's arse in private, tbh.

so, it seems to me that the campaign to start with would be to try to get the upcoming Tour of Britain to drop the podium girls and go with local junior riders of both sexes.

Sounds like a goer.
As I said before, It's be great to team up with a few ppl and put together some copy and a game plan...

Christ alive, those comments.

"But these women CHOOSE to be objectified! Anyone who objects to their CHOICE is trying to BAN MEN from being ATTRACTED TO WOMEN!"

Helen Wyman has suggested that the sponsors ought to be the people on the podium handing out the prizes to allow them some exposure in return for the money they put up. Not a bad idea and done is many other sports. I think that is what was done at the London Nocturne this year.

I didn't see the comments. If I had I probably wouldn't have posted the link.

It's ok. I don't hold you accountable for the comments on any other websites*, so no reason to start here.

*COLLECTIVE PHEW

Jimmy Savile competed in the Milk Race, not sure any parent would want their child presenting a trophy and a kiss to the likes of him.

Not a Londonist but happy to offer support where I can from afar.

My first thought is that you should check if something is already being done. If it is, get behind that, bolster it with support, offer ways to improve it.

If not, you'll benefit from a campaign not an argument. A whingey email expressing the collective will of a portion of a web forum won't go far, a website with an associated petition will go a lot further.

Also, expect to fail. We're pretty close to the ToB already. Contracts with models and their agencies will have already be signed and the organisers won't want the hassle of paying them out with nothing to show for it. If we don't get our way, that isn't a bad thing though. It's not like the ToB is going to get worse as a reaction. But you'll already have control of a talking point and that's important. As you've said upthread, there's a long game at play here and, like politics, it's one that you'll never absolutely lose but can absolutely win.

I forgot that all cyclists are nonces.

I think my point was more that is endemic throughout society and sport, using models to promote things, and as I said there is an industry associated with it, so singling out cycling as a sport needing to sort its sexism out would actually put it at odds with wider social norms.

This is a terrible, terrible justification and I feel equally depressed and baffled just reading it.

That's just a matter of spin. In many way's cycling is already at odds with wider social norms. Cycling arguably does more to address doping amid it's ranks than other sports. We've already seen the spin where it puts itself up as a sport that is choosing to make itself better where others aren't. Doing the same with sexism isn't faintly an issue. Tennis is already ahead of this game with no observable detriment.

I have many many thoughts on this and think the petition is a fab idea and you should target the Tour of Britain!
For now though, quickly, if you want your petition to be taken seriously you need to get the details right! 'Ban' only has one N and the UCI is the Union Cycliste Internationale
Ooh and maybe 'ban' is the wrong word as it suggests the podium girls have done something wrong??
Good luck!

I'm not justifying it all, just pointing out this is part of wider social trends. I'm think I'm out of this discussion, too polarising, likely to cause shouting.

[Edit] The point I was trying to make that using pretty women to promote and sell things is prevalent throughout Western society and likely an inveitable result of living in a patriarchal, capitalist society, and for things to change requires a more fundamental shift in social attitudes and practises.

too polarising

Yes, "objectifying women is shitty" vs "nah, it's cool bro, coz everyone else is doing it" are certainly polar opposites of opinion.

I'm still struggling to get my head round your argument, tbh.

Agree Tour of Britain is a good target, 38 days to go so we've got a little time.

Normally best way to do these things is target sponsors as they're in this for good publicity and will be super sensitive to potential for fall out from their involvement. Aviva would make sense as the target as lead sponsor.

Also agree that offering the alternative of young riders from local clubs who are up and coming (of any gender) is a great positive message.

Well the edit might clear things up, and as I said the last thing I want is to get shouty about it

To the last, that much is clear

Well, what is your argument here? That... there's no point in anyone doing anything because other industries aren't doing things? That doesn't make sense. If that's not what you're arguing, then why bring it up in the first place as an alternative viewpoint?

o.O

@Katie-Coo That's not my petition. I didn't start it up, I just signed it last night...

You're right. That's why I'm on here talking about it so I can write something that will be taken seriously..

@The_Seldom_Killer I'm not a Londonist either i'm in Bristol now...

I don't have an argument, just an opinion, its fair enough to try to affect change in something like the Tour of Britain, which IMO doesn't really have a problem with podium girls anyway.

As for the rest, vote the conservatives out, break the power of the banks, get a more egalitarian society in general, more women in power, more women as heads of industry, that sort of thing.

I believe David Millar is handing out the prizes at the National 25 TT on Sunday, I'd better get a kiss for coming 110th...

Attractive people help sell things.

A few years ago, M&S tried to show that their clothes were for ordinary women by having normal and natural women modelling them. They lost sales and reverted to attractive models. Attractive women, it appears, attract other women to buy things as they are aspirational.

In a similar vein, good looking men are used to model suits and other male clothing.

Good looking models of either gender are also seen on beaches in holiday ads etc. Fine.

Popping a barely clad young woman on the bonnet of a car says little for its performance or safety. It is simply a lure. It degrades men; it degrades the woman.

Suggesting that part of the perk for a cyclist of winning a race is a kiss from an attractive young woman does the same.

Just realised the article cliveo linked to is from 2010. Probably best to email the ToB first and check on thier current plans.

Have just sent an email to their press team - will report back