The new great grid girl debate

Mike Harte · 31 Jan 2018, 14:32 (Ref:3797167)

Grid girls are no longer. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42890261

**Peter Mallett** · 31 Jan 2018, 14:50 (Ref:3797170)

Wonder what focus group they'll pander to next?

Richard C · 31 Jan 2018, 16:51 (Ref:3797203)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Wonder what focus group they'll pander to next?

They shouldn't change the group. They should continue to "pander" to those that they think are the future fans. I assume businesses "pander" to their customers all the time. Or better said... listen to their wants.

Clearly all customers may not agree.

Richard

**Peter Mallett** · 31 Jan 2018, 16:59 (Ref:3797205)

So some people have lost, albeit part time but fun, jobs for no really good reason.

Richard C · 31 Jan 2018, 17:15 (Ref:3797209)

The grid girl discussion thread ran its course and eventually was locked (it became the trainwreck I knew it would). I don't want this thread to turn into that discussion. So... No more comments from me on this topic. It is just rehashing that thread anyhow. Everyone is not going to agree.

But... thanks Mike for the link regarding the news.

Richard

**bella** · 31 Jan 2018, 17:46 (Ref:3797218)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Grid girls are no longer. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42890261

good news for equality, and making women feel welcome in the sport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

So some people have lost, albeit part time but fun, jobs for no really good reason.

they can get "proper" jobs in motorsport to get involved like the rest of us do.

**Peter Mallett** · 31 Jan 2018, 17:57 (Ref:3797222)

They probably don't want "proper" jobs in the sport.

**bella** · 31 Jan 2018, 18:04 (Ref:3797226)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

They probably don't want "proper" jobs in the sport.

and what do attractive men do when they don't want "proper" jobs in the sport?

loon · 31 Jan 2018, 18:24 (Ref:3797230)

Just scrap F1 and rename Formula E as F1, they already have, jaguar, citroen,bmw,audi,porsche and mercedes, all they need now is Ferrari and the world is at their feet

Richard C · 31 Jan 2018, 20:41 (Ref:3797269)

Richard

**bjohnsonsmith** · 31 Jan 2018, 23:38 (Ref:3797309)

Quote:

Originally Posted by loon

Just scrap F1 and rename Formula E as F1, they already have, jaguar, citroen,bmw,audi,porsche and mercedes, all they need now is Ferrari and the world is at their feet

They don't have Lewis, or Vettel.

**Peter Mallett** · 1 Feb 2018, 06:12 (Ref:3797363)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

and what do attractive men do when they don't want "proper" jobs in the sport?

Drive the cars?

F1Guy · 1 Feb 2018, 08:40 (Ref:3797382)

That's strike one for Liberty Media. Absolutely stupid decision.

F1Guy · 1 Feb 2018, 09:36 (Ref:3797389)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

good news for equality

So bunch of men have decided that women aren't allowed to do a paid job of their own choice, who have effectively banned women doing something they wished and wanted to do of their own free will. That is good news for equality???

You only have to read the comments posted under that BBC Sport article link to see this was not a good decision. 99.9% of the comments are against this decision.

**bella** · 1 Feb 2018, 10:30 (Ref:3797399)

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1Guy

You only have to read the comments posted under that BBC Sport article link to see this was not a good decision. 99.9% of the comments are against this decision.

sure, but instead of listening to randomers off the internet talk to women actually trying to work in the sport in any other role and see what they say. this one isn’t about what men and the privileged 30 or 40 girls per event think, it’s a far, far bigger thing than that.

there’s no point in bothering to discuss this any more tbh. nobody is going to change their viewpoint no matter how much energy everyone wastes on it.

as someone on twitter said, remember it’s not The Feminists that have decided to stop booking models for work, it’s a bunch of middle aged conservative men. the same ones who are umming and ahhing over whether to change race start times

Sodemo · 1 Feb 2018, 11:24 (Ref:3797411)

Liberty Media haven't done this for anything noble, like equality reasons, they have made this change because they are worried about their bottom line (pardon the pun). Public perception matters and if that affects their brand, then that means lower revenues. They have just stuck their finger in the air and seen which way the wind is blowing on this very topic, personally I don’t blame them for taking the decision, however deep down I don’t think it’s been done for the right reasons. I think if the women involved enjoy it and aren’t being coerced into it, I don’t personally see the problem. It’s a modelling job at the end of the day, are they going to ban modelling now as a “profession”?

**Peter Mallett** · 1 Feb 2018, 11:29 (Ref:3797413)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Liberty Media haven't done this for anything noble, like equality reasons, they have made this change because they are worried about their bottom line (pardon the pun). Public perception matters and if that affects their brand, then that means lower revenues, they have just stuck their finger in the air and seen which way the wind is blowing on this very topic, personally I don’t blame them for taking the decision, however deep down I don’t think it’s been done for the right reasons. I think if the women involved enjoy it and aren’t being coerced into it, I don’t personally see the problem. It’s a modelling job at the end of the day, are they going to ban modelling now as a “profession”?

Yes, I agree. All for the wrong reasons. If they concentrated on bringing back affordable technology so this would be no issue. All this is doing, is moving the furniture around. It makes no difference to the racing.

**bella** · 1 Feb 2018, 11:39 (Ref:3797415)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I think if the women involved enjoy it and aren’t being coerced into it, I don’t personally see the problem. It’s a modelling job at the end of the day, are they going to ban modelling now as a “profession”?

ehhhhhh, it's not strictly modelling though. promotional work maybe. it does need thinking about.

the issue is that whilst they're making money (get it, girls), and by all accounts having a great day, they're also validating the act of using women as decoration. so yeah, from their point of view it's fine but from the outside? it's saying "go ahead guys, that's all i'm here for - leering at and giggling at your crap chatup lines, lewd remarks and dad jokes".

i have a feeling this is going to end up being like the wec was - the *series* won't be hiring any grid girls, but they could easily tell the teams they need to provide someone to hold the grid board.

the interesting thing for me is that if we elevate men to do the same kind of job as grid girls it generally just looks a bit desperate and awkward. but if we say that we only expect women to do the promotional work that men currently do, it looks very different. i was thinking about that in general terms earlier as well - society and the media kicks off a bit when women start acting like men (see: the ladette culture of the 90s), but now we're expecting men to behave how we see women as doing, eg with a bit of decorum around the opposite sex, there's uproar.

put your impartial hat on and ponder that next time you're waiting for a kettle to boil. it's quite an interesting rabbit hole to disappear down. and totally off-topic

E.B · 1 Feb 2018, 12:09 (Ref:3797425)

I understand Bella's point of view and respect it.... I just think the banning of grid girls per se is a bit of a knee jerk. They could do as some GP's already did.... dress the girls in National costumes and put some culture in the show. As an example, the Olympic's opening ceremony.

Then the girls get their gig and everyone is happy.
For those that want a flesh show, go pick up a Target catalogue.

**bella** · 1 Feb 2018, 12:13 (Ref:3797428)

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.B

dress the girls in National costumes and put some culture in the show. As an example, the Olympic's opening ceremony.

sorry i just had this mental image of a whole bunch of girls in full faces of slap and perfectly done hair.... dressed as morris dancers

E.B · 1 Feb 2018, 12:23 (Ref:3797432)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

sorry i just had this mental image of a whole bunch of girls in full faces of slap and perfectly done hair.... dressed as morris dancers

Silverstone maybe.....

**Adam43** · 1 Feb 2018, 20:06 (Ref:3797545)

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1Guy

You only have to read the comments posted under that BBC Sport article link to see this was not a good decision. 99.9% of the comments are against this decision.

Never ever has there been a better gauge of what is right than the comments section on the BBC website.

Akrapovic · 1 Feb 2018, 20:21 (Ref:3797549)

Why is this being discussed in the rules section? This is not a rule. Grid girls have not been banned. There is not a regulation on this. It is simply contractors not being rehired due to the job no longer being required.

If I stop hiring a builder, builders are not banned. They just aren't hired. So no matter what your opinion on grid girls, let's be clear that it is not a sporting regulation or rule - just F1 isn't hiring for a redundant position anymore. Making positions redundant that are filled by contractors happens, literally, every day in thousands of companies and positions around the world. Nobody seems to be fighting the side of the office worker who was "banned".

**Adam43** · 1 Feb 2018, 20:42 (Ref:3797552)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Why is this being discussed in the rules section?

Good point. New thread created. For us all to enjoy.

**bella** · 1 Feb 2018, 20:50 (Ref:3797554)

good shout. i think we're all bored of discussing this but still it continues...

adam, just need to do some housework, mine and chili's convo was about techno-nomex gloves not lycra!

edit: done

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