- 91
- United States
They are literally paid to be sexy.
Formula 1 Scraps The Use Of Grid Girls For The 2018 SeasonFormula 1
- Thread starter Robin
- 278 comments
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- 6,356
- Michigan
- DaveTheStalker
Some people exploit their ability to run really fast. Some exploit their ability to have incredibly steady hands and become brain surgeons. Some people exploit their aggressive behavior and become human punching bags (and get HIGHLY paid). Some people exploit their “gift to gab” and write books. Some people are really good at pretending to be someone else, they become actors. Some people are simply blessed with very appealing looks and exploit that.
While some people’s sole purpose on Earth is to control what other people are allowed to and not allowed to enjoy.
While some people’s sole purpose on Earth is to control what other people are allowed to and not allowed to enjoy.
- 3,886
- St.Pete, FL
- NotThePrez
- NotThePrez
Personally I'm not to bothered by the removal of Grid girls, however I do find the worldwide reactions to this news fascinating and very eye-opening.
- 1,448
The thing about grid-girls is that, unlike many things you've listed above, contribute with nothing of significance to the event's environment. You could replace them with a pole holding up the sign, little would change. It's a very shallow job, just stand around and look pretty. That's where I stand. I, actually, find it a bit insulting for males that these organizers think women need to be in everything we like in order to hold our attention. My point is, I can undestand not having concerts, camping, autograph sessions, food stands etc, is a turn off (these things do have contributions to the event's environment), but would you really not go to racing event you like because there are no grid-girls? Where do your priorities lie, really?
Doesn't sound like you'll be running out of things to take pictures of if grid-girls are not there, considering that list.
- 44,185
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
Considering least in btcc they do a lot more helping put behind scenes and some with the cars, i would say this generalisation is whats wrong.
Robin
Premium
- 16,799
- United Kingdom
Why.
It sounds a lot like the rhetoric that's going around at the moment, women should be given a choice.... but seemingly not if you want to be a grid girl.
Doctors, Engineers, Scientists... Yes
Grid Girls, Models etc... No!!
There is nothing wrong with this job, your insinuating that its a 'lesser' thing. For some girls it's the pinnacle of what they want to achieve in life. People seem to think the only role models young girls should ever see are nuclear physicists! God forbid if they want to become something else.
Well Amy Dargan for one. I don't know how important you want them to be, do the have to be head of the team?! Why is it unachievable to become one of the many members of staff? I see plenty of girls at races in the paddock in team shirts running all over the place. How do you know they didn't start out as grid girls?
- 6,356
- Michigan
- DaveTheStalker
Pre-race is useless. May as well just end the whole waste of a half hour. Just do the recon laps and get on with it!!!
- 183
- Vietnam
Just told my girlfriend. She doesnt even watch motor sports and she was puzzled as to why they did this. If other women dont see this as degrading then what old fart is making up these new rules. In my opinion its just extra eye candy and makes the drama of the sport a little more relaxing.
Id rather see them for those 10 minutes before the race than racers quarel like babies with cringe comments after the race.
@homeofsummer
Do you think they go out there with an intent to become a manager of the team or something more? They go there just as if they would to a club. To find a man with bling and F1 is surrounded with rich people. If they wanted to get in the industry of motorsports they should of gone the way of Danica and not put on high heels and eat an apple for the whole day to keep that perfect figure.
Dont forget, these girls get paid, travel around the world with the team and stay in best hotels.
Id rather see them for those 10 minutes before the race than racers quarel like babies with cringe comments after the race.
@homeofsummer
Do you think they go out there with an intent to become a manager of the team or something more? They go there just as if they would to a club. To find a man with bling and F1 is surrounded with rich people. If they wanted to get in the industry of motorsports they should of gone the way of Danica and not put on high heels and eat an apple for the whole day to keep that perfect figure.
Dont forget, these girls get paid, travel around the world with the team and stay in best hotels.
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- 1,448
These girls have other assignments other than just standing around. I wouldn't really call these girls grid-girls. The posing on the grid is just an extra for them.
Danoff
Premium
- 33,992
- Mile High City
The grid girls thing is a bit trashy. I'm all for trashy at times, it's fun, but Formula 1 has decided that it's not the right image for their brand. That's fine, they're going an anti-trashy direction with their brand image. No problem.
Why are grid girls trashy? Because of the way they're used. They stand by the cars at the beginning just looking good, but not actually rooting for anyone, or sticking with a team. It's almost as if they're paraded out there as the spoils of victory. Afterword, they go hang out with the winner, literally the spoils of victory. They're handed over like a trophy and a bottle of champagne.
Don't get me wrong, that doesn't bother me at all. But I can see why Formula 1 thinks it's a bit trashy (which is fine) and wants to take their brand in a different direction (which is also fine).
Why are grid girls trashy? Because of the way they're used. They stand by the cars at the beginning just looking good, but not actually rooting for anyone, or sticking with a team. It's almost as if they're paraded out there as the spoils of victory. Afterword, they go hang out with the winner, literally the spoils of victory. They're handed over like a trophy and a bottle of champagne.
Don't get me wrong, that doesn't bother me at all. But I can see why Formula 1 thinks it's a bit trashy (which is fine) and wants to take their brand in a different direction (which is also fine).
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- 27,205
- United Kingdom
Don't pretend you don't know what I mean.
Being a cheerleader is an athletic position. There are competitions in it and the people that do it have to exercise real skill to do so.
Being a grid girl involves being born pretty, and then standing around in some clothes continuing to look pretty. I'm sure there's skill in putting on makeup, but then ugly women can develop that skill too and you don't see them on the grid of F1 races...
You've taken my point out of context.
I didn't say women absolutely should not aspire to positions of where they can use their beauty, I said that grid girls shouldn't necessarily be the prominent role for women in F1. Neither one of those comments cancels the other out.
As I said in a long post a page or two back, I personally couldn't care less whether F1 had grid girls or not. What I'm offering are reasons why grid girls may not be an appropriate representation of what F1 is about.
And for those who didn't read the aforementioned post, nor am I insinuating that it's somehow a "lesser" role in life to be a grid girl - but if that is the only prominent role for women in F1, then it's perhaps not the best way of inspiring younger generations to get into the sport.
I promise you, there will not be a queue of attractive women lining up at the dole office because they can no longer be F1 grid girls, particularly given they have other jobs, such as you've claimed below:
Ironically in Amy Dargan you've chosen someone who's very first comment on Twitter on the move was "I'm on the fence", which is already a far more balanced approach than all the not-a-grid-girls falling over themselves in this thread to declare it a feminism disaster.
Of all the hills on which to die...
No they don't. The girls are unique to each country (this much is clear if you've ever seen a race) and paid by F1, not by the teams themselves.
- 44,185
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
So what do we call them on grid when they are dressed in lycra with a sign? Lollipop-huggers?
- 3,182
- Hong Kong
- Hybrid_Tifoso
Personally I don’t find this act to be a good one, although I understand the motives behind.
I’m saying this because it kind of hurts the grid girls’ right to do what they desire, and it seems like an act that will further separate women from motorsports. With grid girls out of the equation now, the only prominent positions females can actively participate in the running of the sport that immediately springs into my mind are only drivers, engineers and mechanics. Females are inherently disadvantaged in terms of physique and strength to males, which explains why you don’t see a lot of female drivers on the international stage. And engineers and mechanics require a bachelor’s degree in relevant fields, which isn’t that easy to come by, especially if you’re financially short of resources. Sure, relevant work experience also matters for the latter, but then you don’t see a lot of females getting employed for the work. And with grid girls getting phased out gradually, women who are interested in motorsports and want to be a part of it to have a taste of what it’s like but don’t have the money or expertise to do so are now left with virtually no options. So I don’t think banning grid girls will help women’s involvement in motorsports in any way. Encouraging female participation by setting up a female-exclusive race series or through promotion (but not banning them from a part of it) seems to be a better option.
As for the objectification of women, sometimes the results of putting on makeup also kind of resembles female objectification, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see anyone objecting to it.
I do think that females deserve more right than they currently do in this world of ours, but this just seems like too far a step to me. I don’t know, I’m probably ill-informed in some ways this time, but I stand by my opinion. I’m not a supporter of people being robbed of their rights to do something, as long as it doesn’t violate others’ rights.
I’m saying this because it kind of hurts the grid girls’ right to do what they desire, and it seems like an act that will further separate women from motorsports. With grid girls out of the equation now, the only prominent positions females can actively participate in the running of the sport that immediately springs into my mind are only drivers, engineers and mechanics. Females are inherently disadvantaged in terms of physique and strength to males, which explains why you don’t see a lot of female drivers on the international stage. And engineers and mechanics require a bachelor’s degree in relevant fields, which isn’t that easy to come by, especially if you’re financially short of resources. Sure, relevant work experience also matters for the latter, but then you don’t see a lot of females getting employed for the work. And with grid girls getting phased out gradually, women who are interested in motorsports and want to be a part of it to have a taste of what it’s like but don’t have the money or expertise to do so are now left with virtually no options. So I don’t think banning grid girls will help women’s involvement in motorsports in any way. Encouraging female participation by setting up a female-exclusive race series or through promotion (but not banning them from a part of it) seems to be a better option.
As for the objectification of women, sometimes the results of putting on makeup also kind of resembles female objectification, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see anyone objecting to it.
I do think that females deserve more right than they currently do in this world of ours, but this just seems like too far a step to me. I don’t know, I’m probably ill-informed in some ways this time, but I stand by my opinion. I’m not a supporter of people being robbed of their rights to do something, as long as it doesn’t violate others’ rights.
- 275
- Belifant
@homeforsummer
Thanks, you actually changed my mind about this issue with your responses.
I'm writing this because it's a rare thing to happen on the internet
And no, I'm not being sarcastic!
Thanks, you actually changed my mind about this issue with your responses.
I'm writing this because it's a rare thing to happen on the internet
And no, I'm not being sarcastic!
- 2,321
- Wales
- TSR_GTWelsh
If the girls want to do it, and are paid well to do it, then why on earth have women gone out of their way to make sure they cannot now do their job? It's absolutely ridiculous, women against women. I guess all WWE wrestlers will be wearing baggy t-shirts to cover up all those muscles in future yeah?
- 27,387
- Toronto
- NewAesthetic
- SlipZtrEm
Wow, two sexual stereotypes in a single paragraph. Solid.
Weird. I told my girlfriend and her response was "good, about time." Should I use that single experience as an example for all women too?
Doubling down on the idea that grid girls are only in that position to find a rich man. Classy.
This, so much this.
If F1 wants to increase its appeal to the younger generation, this makes sense. I've seen enough old white men be insanely creepy to booth girls at autoshows to figure out that, for some, a woman being in a position so obviously centered around aesthetics seemingly means that sort of treatment is acceptable.
I really like the idea up-thread, about replacing grid girls with kids. I think that'd do a lot more for inspiring kids to follow the sport — both those that take part, and those watching from home.
- 860
- Longueuil
Great news! I’m gay so never cared for grid girls. I got plenty of eye candy with the cute drivers already haha!
DesertPenguin
(Banned)
- 10,691
- Long Island, New York
- DesertPenguin_
- 1,448
I would call them grid-girls. What I said in my statement was that they are grid-girls, as an extra. Those girls you said, they are there to do other, more important things, related to the event's organization. When they're doing these things, they are not grid-girls.
Also, speaking of lollipops, why doens't the lollipop guy/girl of the pitcrew do the job? If the guy/girl standing next to the car wore the team's overalls with all the colors and sponsors, it would be more effective, even from an advertisement standpoint and a team identification standpoint.
Brend
Premium
- 11,771
- Scotland
- GTSophy-Lapos
- ClassicBrend
Have you ever been to a Darts event? It's pretty much a conglomerate of offensively rude and overdrunk leery men who ogle constantly and don't pay anyone a slice of respect. The hilarity of having these beautiful women walking overweight men who throw things at a board is quickly lost when you see in real life how often people try and grab at them and in general make them uncomfortable.
I do not see those types of girl and grid girls in the same mindset at all. Grid girls are essentially modelling, darts walk-on girls are literally there to draw attention of a good chunk of people who can't show anyone, never mind a woman, the most simple respect and garner a reaction.
Whilst the original motivation behind grid girls was probably the pre-stone age one the darts championship uses, I do think it's graduated beyond that in general. Outside of the trashiness required in places like the US, since they're a lot more receptive to cheerleaders and that sort of thing.
This decision is one I can understand from a brand perspective but not from that of a 40 year old bald uncle who creepily comments on a woman's appearance to their peers. Similarly, it's a shame that a job market is lost for women who want to do this but I won't agree with the sentiment that this is a 'down with the patriarchy!' moment many extremists will refer to it as. I can't even allow myself to think that given we have literal cultures that severely limit the potential of women in their lives.
As @Pagey279 also says, there's potential to have 'grid girls' replaced with people who simply represent each team, much like mascots in football/soccer. It's not an outlandish concept.
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- WyldAnimal_
Many of these girls / women have devoted their career to modeling.
This was a their Job, something they devoted a lot of time to become.
So now you are putting them on the unemployment lines...
Did anyone talk the the Girls / models?
Was it their own decision?
Did they think they were being used just as Objects?
It would really be interesting to hear it from the Girls/ Women's perspective.
This was a their Job, something they devoted a lot of time to become.
So now you are putting them on the unemployment lines...
Did anyone talk the the Girls / models?
Was it their own decision?
Did they think they were being used just as Objects?
It would really be interesting to hear it from the Girls/ Women's perspective.
- 31,555
- Buckwheat City
- Dennisch
No, but adding a bunch of fatties probably would have.
- 17,099
- United Kingdom
If that's your view on grid-girls, then fine. If you find yourself insulted by it, I'm glad I'm able to accept or ignore such seemingly insignificant things much more easily I guess.
My priorities lay with getting the most out of the experience, and I hope that experience is as rich as possible. I could go more into that, but it's probably a subject best left for another thread - I've often thought about posting my opinions on events and venues as a separate thread before (started writing a blog even...), and since 99% (or 97% if I discount my first ever trip to Oulton) will not feature grid girls, I won't bother doing it here.
I wouldn't, I'd guess 85% of the shots I take are cars, but you're missing my point. I'm not complaining that I wouldn't be able to take photo's of grid girls anymore, I'm emphasizing that I like visual variety... the things you claimed are a distraction - because y'know, you're a true racing fan.
I'm heterosexual, though I've often suspected if I weren't, I'd be totally gay for Kimi Raikkonen.. does he count as eye candy? I'd hate to think I had poor taste
- 27,205
- United Kingdom
No problem - and thanks for taking the time to read my posts 👍@homeforsummer
Thanks, you actually changed my mind about this issue with your responses.
I'm writing this because it's a rare thing to happen on the internet
Robin
Premium
- 16,799
- United Kingdom
But again, who says its not the best way of inspiring younger generations to get into the sport? Anything can be an inspiration, just seeing girls in the same vicinity as motorsport, regardless of the level of involvement, could be the inspirational spark for someone... who knows! It should really be seen as a good example of female involvement because as it is there are way too many men on screen in F1.
You wanted an example of a girl who has transitioned from that role, I gave you one. Whether she is on the fence about the profession (totally her right) is irrelevant with regards to that point. Also there have been more than a few current and former grid girls that certainly haven't been on the fence about all this as well as some drivers. How is declaring your love for something you do or appreciate an unbalanced approach?
Head over to Twitter, there is plenty of feedback.
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