Podium Girls

[Spinney]

No no, the original theme of the thread was podium girls are just exploited females giving other females a bad rep.

I believe that podium are not exploited and as such are actually empowered by their beauty and job, why else would highly professional women choose to do it? Unless of course your saying highly successful professional women are just pandering to media and societal pressure to become the stereotypical bimbo.

The original post was:

"Are they an anachronism? Are they needed? Discuss..."

I fail to see how my argument is irrelevant to that. And I also fail to see how this is saying that podium girls are exploited, or giving other females a bad rep.

And the part of your post I've put in bold is quite telling, I think. They are empowered by their beauty. So women who are not as beautiful will be less empowered?

 

[theclaud]

Who said it had to be debate? Maybe it was just a one off point of interest and ill judged joke?

Blimey - try to follow at least the last two or three posts, there's a good fellow. Rifleman Smith claimed that removing pictures of women that were posted in order for addictfreak to affirm his own masculinity by ogling their tits affects the debate (his word). It doesn't.

 

[Radchenister]

Spinney, an interesting article - can you find one for media pressure on men as well please?

How about the squeezed middle 40 something and their lack of hope by the Daily Mail?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ession-epidemic-suffered-middle-aged-men.html


I think someone said above, in a balanced society gender roles are natural, when the roles become limited, ill defined or problematic is not something that I, or anyone else is going to be able to really define here in relation to podium girls and the wider society.

The crux of this issue constitutes defining who are 'offenders' and who are 'offended' and by what action, that's the key issue IMO.

I'm struggling to see any fault or oppression and feel the podium girls and boys make little odds to me personally; I can understand that some people might not like them and believe I am a sociably minded chap but am not yet convinced they make any real odds to the world at large either ... but as I've said, the default position is to agree that they can simply be removed, as I am neutral on the need for them.

Although don't take my word for it ... you're local to me, you're welcome to come around and listen to my other half and daughter, as they'd be happy to input I'm sure - I might be writing off their ability for a glam day out.

 

[raindog]

oldroadman, who started the thread, has never posted again. I can imagine him just sitting back chuckling at the mayhem he's caused.

 

[Spinney]

Spinney, an interesting article - can you find one for media pressure on men as well please?

How about the squeezed middle 40 something and their lack of hope by the Daily Mail?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ession-epidemic-suffered-middle-aged-men.html


I think someone said above, in a balanced society gender roles are natural, when the roles become limited, ill defined or problematic is not something I, or anyone else is going to be able to really define here in relation to podium girls and the wider society.

The crux of this issue constitutes defining who are 'offenders' and who are 'offended' and by what action, that's the key issue IMO.

I'm struggling to see any fault or oppression and feel the podium girls and boys make little odds to me personally; I can understand that some people might not like them and believe I am a sociably minded chap but am not yet convinced they make any real odds to the world at large either ... but as I've said, the default position is to agree that they can simply be removed as a default, as I am neutral on the need for them.

Although don't take my word for it ... you're local to me, you're welcome to come around and listen to my other half and daughter, as they'd be happy to input I'm sure - I might be writing off their ability for a glam day out.

I'm not denying that such things do not affect men - there is evidence (I think) that taller men are more likely to get promoted etc, etc. But I think that you will find it hard to argue that there is as much media pressure on men as on women.

As I said before, the podium girls are part of a much wider pressure on women to look attractive. And your partner/wife and daughter may not feel pressured to conform to media stereotypes (are you sure?), but that does not mean that others are not. And it is not a problem that is apparent to many men - naturally, if it does not affect you, you are unlikely to notice it.

 

[Crackle]

As a man, I can appreciate a podium girl as much as any pretty woman, in fact any woman, they are fascinating in all forms. - don't quote that bit out of context now.

As a human being I find them an anachronism. Not because there's something inherently wrong with people wanting to do that kind of role but because it is an unfortunate representation, one which re-inforces an objectification of, in this case, women, hardly conducive to an equal society etc...

I daresay, some do it without thinking about what they are portraying, some have thought it through and made a conscious decision, some just think it's OK and some are a bit thick.

So in fact, podium girls are potentially complex issues as are podium blokes, podium transvestites (if only) and podium ladyboys (hah!). Viewing them from one angle and attaching your label makes you in danger of being wrong.

I expect Sagan didn't really think about what he was doing at all. I bet he has now though.

 

[Spinney]

oldroadman, who started the thread, has never posted again. I can imagine him just sitting back chuckling at the mayhem he's caused.

And the amount of work I should have done but have not!

 

[Radchenister]

Spinney, that's my point - I'm not arguing, I am giving my opinion, bowing to them (podium 'people') being removed and still being told to change my view, despite it being a fairly reasonable position I feel ... or perhaps it isn't?

 

[Spinney]

I wasn't trying to tell you to change your opinion, just trying to point out why you may not have noticed any adverse effects of podium girls (etc), and inviting you to reconsider a little.

(You're not bromptonfb!)

 

[Radchenister]

Ultimately, I'm a bloke - apologies !

 

[hobbitonabike]

I get where you are coming from Spinney. Having suffered in the past with low self esteem it has taken me a long time to accept I will never look like the stereotype podium girl and finally be happy in my own skin. Images like this used to really rankle me, now however I am indifferent personally but do worry about the effect images like those have on young girls. I work in a primary school and to hear girls as young as 7 worry about whether they are pretty, thin and even trying to act 'sexy' is gut wrenching. I try very hard to encourage an attitude of healthiness over beauty but when you are up against the images we see everywhere and the comments that are made about them, you have to wonder if you're banging your head on a brick wall!!!

 

[Lurpak]

Cyclechat mods en route to Cheltenham yesterday.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Well Mr Flying Monkey sir, looks like even though as you have already stated "this topic has been flogged to death" seems like you have a lot to say about it? Maybe you just like reading your own replies? I know I do but I've got an ulterior motive. With my goodself being a newbie here I need to get my post count up and found this an intersesting topic to join in on? Sorry if this in anyway upset you?

Anyway swiftly moving on sexism is purely in the eye of the beholder? Is a couple of pretty girls handing out flowers and a kiss really that bad? no but is it needed? again no but then again what is really needed? It's all entertainment at the end of the day to fill up our mundane lifes because we dont have to hunt and gather anymore. The problem as I see it isn't with the girls it's everyone that has an opinion on it Yes I do include myself in that one.

Why do they need to be pretty girls?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cyclechat mods en route to Cheltenham yesterday.

You are demeaning yourself and insulting the mods, by this comparison.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I was really struck by the synchronicity of Firestorm's wonderful thread about his much-loved cycling parents and everything that the 'cycle chat taliban stopped me exercising my right to ogle pictures of podium girls' crowd here represent. Just contrast the photo of Firestorm's mother giving it some real welly on the bike and the pictures of podium girls... it's pretty clear which represents the kind of role model girls should be growing up with, which one says empowerment and equality, and which one should be the future of cycle sport.