[Closed] Podium girls

I'm for binning the podium girls. It's not because they are not pleasing on the eye - they are. It's not even because it's demeaning for women - even though I think it is. But mainly because it's demeaning to the event and the rider. It's just does not needed - the star of the show should be the winner/ class leader. It does not need any more dressing up or aesthetic additions. They are irrelevant fluff that is not needed.

So hands up for those here of the middle aged male fraternity, would you be happy for your daughter to be a podium girl and to be ogled by other middle aged men?

Yes, no issue for me at all. An ex girlfriend of mine was an F1 grid girl/hostess while she was a student - first class travel to Japan/Malaysia, put up in a 5* hotel for a week, stand around looking pretty for two or three days and get paid enough to clear all her fees in two stints.
Most importantly, she got [b]zero[/b] hassle from anyone and was under strict instructions to report improper advances to the minders who would happily sort out the gorilla fraternity.

I have 2 daughters and would encourage them to do whatever they wished to do in life, if that included being a podium girl, go for it.

So any paid activity is acceptable if you can find someone to volunteer for it?

So hands up for those here of the middle aged male fraternity, would you be happy for your daughter to be a podium girl and to be ogled by other middle aged men?

And the same question to the female contingent on the forum?

Surely this easy answer to this to have pretty girls on odd days and hunky men on even days, so the winner can get their trophy kiss and flowers. Or both, where the winner gets kissed on his/her cheek by one of each?

Cos if its not about sex and all that then there should be no problem.

I have 2 daughters and would encourage them to do whatever they wished to do in life, if that included being a podium girl, go for it.

So would you be fine if they wanted to be a lap dancer, prostitute, stripper or porn actor?

What happens in motorbike racing?

Surely this easy answer to this to have pretty girls on odd days and hunky men on even days, so the winner can get their trophy kiss and flowers. Or both, where the winner gets kissed on his/her cheek by one of each?

To simplify things, why not just have one male and one female?

What happens in motorbike racing?

People ride motorised cycles round a track. The first to the chequered flag wins.

HTH 8)

So would you be fine if they wanted to be a lap dancer, prostitute, stripper or porn actor?

Well, this is why I keep asking if any paid activity is ok, and I find the silence instructive.

Why have the podium girls with clothes on? I'm sure the TdF could rustle up a naked porn star or two, at the right price, pleasuring the stage winner if he so desires, and surely no-one would object if their daughter was to undertake said employment?

Good idea Jamie! Saves costs too!

What happens in motorbike racing?

[img] [/img]

So would you be fine if they wanted to be a lap dancer, prostitute, stripper or porn actor?

I certainly wouldn't encourage it, but I think that you might have misread the podium girls job description somewhere along the way and have become confused about the discussion we are having.

I certainly wouldn't encourage it, but I think that you might have misread the podium girls job description somewhere along the way and have become confused about the discussion we are having.

The argument made for keeping podium girls is that there's no problem because they want to do it. So why not a porn star, if that's what they want?

I think we need to ban all professional sport, except maybe darts, as all the fit athletes are making me body conscious 🙁

So would you be fine if they wanted to be a lap dancer, prostitute, stripper or porn actor?

Those jobs are nothign like working in PR, and nothing like each other - or do you think that because someone can be good at their job, in part. because of the why they look they're bascially whores?

If that is what they want, then ok. It would make me very uncomfortable and would make me question my calibre as a parent. I am not in the business of telling anyone what to do, but I would not encourage it.

The difference between getting to be a podium girl for a day and having a career as a prostitute is not a subtle one though and I am not sure what relevance it has to this debate.

Those jobs are nothign like working in PR, and nothing like each other - or do you think that because someone can be good at their job, in part. because of the why they look they're bascially whores?

The jobs all have one thing in common: people are willing to do them.

cinnamon_girl - Member 
What happens in motorbike racing?

See post from Page 2 - Dani Pedrosa (Moto GP) uses a 'Brella Fella

The difference between getting to be a podium girl for a day and having a career as a prostitute is not a subtle one though and I am not sure what relevance it has to this debate.

Because, again, the argument being made for keeping podium girls is that they're willing to do it.

The jobs all have one thing in common: people are willing to do them.

I am not sure anyone is fighting this point but you seem to be clinging onto it despite the silence and lack of opposition.

I am not sure anyone is fighting this point but you seem to be clinging onto it despite the silence and lack of opposition. Which is "telling"

The silence is because no-one is prepared to answer the question.

What is the question ransos? I shall do my best. 😆

What is the question ransos? I shall do my best.

So any paid activity is acceptable if you can find someone to volunteer for it?

So any paid activity is acceptable if you can find someone to volunteer for it?

No. People volunteer to be suicide bombers. Still not sure what relevance that has to this whole debate and it was not a point I would attempt to defend.

My problem with podium girls isn't so much that they exist, more that they're often the only place where women are visible in cycling. This week the Giro Rosa is taking place with virtually no tv coverage, whereas the podium girls at the TdF are on TV every day. I want to see women in a variety of roles in cycling and elsewhere rather than just acting as trophies.

No, that is a stupid assertion. People volunteer to be suicide bombers. Still not sure what relevance that has to this whole debate and it was not a point I would attempt to defend.

It was a question, not an assertion. That's why I used a question mark.

If you don't believe that any activity is acceptable even if the individual wishes to volunteer, then "podium girls must be ok because they want to do it" doesn't hold water as an argument, does it?

It was a question, not an assertion. That's why I used a question mark.

..and that is why I edited my response.

If you don't believe that any activity is acceptable even if the individual wishes to volunteer, then "podium girls must be ok because they want to do it" doesn't hold water as an argument, does it?

That was never my argument.

Stating the obvious but there are two types of people arguing here:
Those that wish to impose their moral "code" on others and those that allow the individual to maintain their own moral code.

I find some of the comments from fathers who wish to dictate what they would like their daughters to do in life more anachronistic than the continued use of podium fluff.

Personally, I think podium girls
/boys are unnecessary but people with better marketing skills than me will no doubt tell the companies involved whether it's better for their image and therefore bottom line.

As long as the participants are not being exploited, it's within the law and safety concerns are addressed (to answer the earlier question about asbestos), carry on as far as I'm concerned....

At the end of the day, everyone has various strengths and weaknesses.Some have brains, some have brawn, some are blessed with good looks and as long as people have the choice to exploit their attributes and are appropriately rewarded, I don't see any problem.

That was never my argument.

Ok. So what did you mean by:

If that is what they want, then ok.

and

I have 2 daughters and would encourage them to do whatever they wished to do in life

If that is what they want, then ok.

I meant that I would not dream of trying to dictate what my daughters do because of the aforementioned moral agency that they possess.

Now, if they were being abused or exploited, were breaking the law or were doing harm to someone else I might have something to say about it, but I do not believe that "podium girl" crosses any of these lines.

My problem with podium girls isn't so much that they exist, more that they're often the only place where women are visible in cycling. This week the Giro Rosa is taking place with virtually no tv coverage, whereas the podium girls at the TdF are on TV every day. I want to see women in a variety of roles in cycling and elsewhere rather than just acting as trophies.

Please take a minute or 30 to watch the EWS and DH highlights from the weekend. The TDF is one of the biggest sporting events in the world so of course it gets a ton of coverage, the girls just happen to be a side part of that.

Now, if they were being abused or exploited, were breaking the law or were doing harm to someone else I might have something to say about it, but I do not believe that "podium girl" crosses any of these lines.

So what you're saying is that there are circumstances in which it's not ok for your daughters to do what they may wish. That is at odds with

I have 2 daughters and would encourage them to do whatever they wished to do in life

But we (society / government) don't believe any activity is acceptable. We have a nuanced view from totally acceptable to totally unacceptable, mainly driven by it being 'harmful' to others or society in general. hence suicide bombing / murder / asbestos.... etc. are not allowed.

Whether you think it acceptable for some people to want to be podium models or porn actors is your call, 'society' has deemed that it is (and you may argue that point and I can see a valid view there). But once it's been deemed acceptable then yes it is OK for people to choose to want to do it. It's also therefore acceptable for the TdF to employ them if they choose to, question is whether that is desirable in this day and age.

I am sorry, I wasn't aware there were points for pedantry. You win.

I'd really like the casual misogyny in everyday life to be banished but, on a positive note, I've never experienced sexism in bike shops. 🙂

I am sorry, I wasn't aware there were points for pedantry. You win.

Your entire rationale was based around libertarianism, whereas in fact you have limits of acceptability, just like everyone else. I find it interesting that you view this as pedantry.

The debate, therefore, is around what we deem to be acceptable rather than some absolutist right. Or as theotherjonv puts it:

It's also therefore acceptable for the TdF to employ them if they choose to, question is whether that is desirable in this day and age.

Yeah. Terrible. In this day and age...

Still - phwooaaar, eh? Eh?

As a counterpoint - if it is not acceptable for a person to seek and gain employment for their 'skill' or 'capability' of being nice looking - why is it acceptable in the same way for people to to seek and gain employment for other 'god given*' talents such as intelligence, or physical prowess such as speed or strength.

The race itself is morally flawed in the same way...... riders should be selected at random from birth, rather than for any actual reason. they couldn't look any worse than Chris Froome, at least.

* term not chosen to be religious, YKWIM

they couldn't look any worse than Chris Froome, at least.

On a bike I mean. Nothing wrong with the way he looks, if bald skeletal men float your boat.

Oh shit, this hole's getting bigger.....

Oh shit, this hole's getting bigger.....

Quick! Get your tits out! It's the only way to distract everyone.

on a positive note, I've never experienced sexism in bike shops

Neither have I but I have experienced sexism in a few other shops - being called brave for taking my kids to Tesco FFS, especially as leaving them home alone would have had me arrested for child neglect.

Back on topic is it not sexist that there are no podium boys on the tdf? Or am I going to be wrong on that front too 😳

What's the difference between a podium girl and a catwalk model in moral or cultural terms?

Jimjam - male models perhaps?

Dickyboy - Member

Jimjam - male models perhaps?

So we just need podium beefcakes for female sports and we're all square?

a model is necessary for clothes to be displayed on

podium girls are pointless