VicanZA Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 So you only watch sport on bang-ability, says alot about you then, most sport that is televised is focused on men ... nuff said. Silly statement, sport is about sport, if we differentiate between men and women based on "bang-ability" then it is not sport anymore but a freaking beauty or worse p0rn activity. Females in sport takes their sport seriously, the high performance ones that I know at least. Basically demeaning of the demands are made to be more "sexy". relax doll face...
Patchelicious Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 Yes. I do. But we feel that the majority of women ride for different reasons then men. Men tend to be more competetive and we crave the win almost. Women tend to be more social and want to compete and have fun. I realise this is a generalisation, but its how we feel. Most of the lady mountain bikers we know and chat to all state that they would love to enter stage events, but feel the events are dominated and centered around the men. From sponsors to prize money allocation, its a male dominated world. So we thought, if we could create a women only event and try and give the majority of women the event that they want, perhaps its a small way to bring female mountain biking a bit closer to the mens. If anything, if we get a large turnout of numbers, it might make the other organisers realise that there are two genders of mountain bikers. Like a said Patch, i am flying by the seat of my pants. Just hoping to try and do something positive for the sport that changed my life. I really welcome any suggestions and comments.Sorry Wayne, let me clarify. I was not having a go at your event, I actually think its a great business idea. I was chirping about the irony in the initial motivation. Your event makes sense, but only because of gender inequality.Let me explain. You seem to have gotten some big sponsors onboard, do you think they would have come on board if it was not for the USP of it being an "Exclusive to Women" type event I think not. The novelty of it being specific for a single gender is exactly why it will attract attention, and therefore sponsors. I know because I sponsor Woman of the Industry events in my business. On the note of the inequality (not your event) which is a very real problem, what gets me sometimes is that we feel the need to force an equal playing field in areas it does not make logical sense instead of the economics and nature taking the natural course. Forced correction that goes against logic is not always a good idea. I just look at my younger brother who got 9 distinctions in matric 2 years ago, and how other who have genetic factors counting in their favour have more doors opening for them. It makes no logical sense, best man/woman for the job, best players get into the Boks, best looking models get most money... Most popular sports gets most funding.... Lets be realists about it. I am not about to give the guys in my office 6 months maternity leave, I am also not going to lobby for equal pay in the modelling world, or as that other chap said the naughty movie industry Various industries and sports are dominated by certain genders based on their genetic disposition, its a fact of reality not of some bigot. Evolution shows that men are good at certain things and woman others. Capitalists will put their money where it will show the best returns. I doubt Calvin Klein will pay some fat dude millions to pose in his undies, or Victoria Secrets getting Rosie O'Donnell to walk down the runway. They get good looking people because that sells. In our company, if a lady is more qualified and has more experience she WILL earn more than her male counterparts because she is more capable end of story. How well you can do your job is why we will hire you not because of BEE or gender equality political pressures. So to conclude, ladies sport in general is not as popular as male sport and therefore the economics will lean in favour of male sport, is it unfortunate? Perhaps. Is it blatant discrimination? I'm not so sure. Now I have to go, there is ladies beach volleyball on, much better than the mens version... oh wait.
Chro Mo Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 Equal distance/time = equal pay. I agree with Helen Wyman on CX - the course, time and distance is the same. XC Mtb -same thing Marathon Mtb - same But where the distance and/or requirements are different for the genders, the argument holds no water. My 2c.
Eldron Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 Gender equality is a myth. Men and women will never be equal - we are physically, mentally and emotionally different. Every sex, race, nation, religion etc has their own strengths and weaknesses - I'm blerry sick of this "we are all equal" ***. The problem nowadays is if you point out a difference someone yells RACIST, SEXIST etc
Warren_G Posted January 13, 2015 Author Posted January 13, 2015 About 6 months ago my wife and i had the same conversation. We decided to do something about it. We registered a company, applied to CSA to hold a two day stage race. We got hold of some big companies and we will be holding the first ever luxury stage race for WOMEN ONLY. We managed to secure sun city as the host and the inaugaral event will be 29/30 august 2015. Oh...did i mention a total prize pool of R500k in cash. Besides other prizes. Anyone want to help?Great idea Wayne!
Shebeen Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 Now I have to go, there is ladies beach volleyball on, much better than the mens version... oh wait.I though beach volleyball was the only sport that required you to wear a bikini....even at the olympics! but then I found the lingerie football league, which is not a Borat joke, but an actual thing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDZmzt_OZQ
Warren_G Posted January 13, 2015 Author Posted January 13, 2015 I though beach volleyball was the only sport that required you to wear a bikini....even at the olympics! but then I found the lingerie football league, which is not a Borat joke, but an actual thing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDZmzt_OZQThere's a lingerie rugby league too...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdzJbMkgsto01:47 great camera work
ChainGuard Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 Interesting array of comments here.Rather than rant, here is a story to highlight the gender discussion. Late last year I entered an event being run for the first time. There were too few ladies to create a separate Cat races for elites and wannabes like me so we all set off together. I waited on the start line with most of the current top ladies in road and track..haha newbie me still wearing my hand-me-down skateboard helmet covered in angry bird stickers!What did the elites say to me while we waited for the race to start?Thank you. Thank you for making the time to try.Gender equality in cycling in my opinion is not about fighting as much for the rights of top competitors, we have plenty of talent! What is important is growing a strong culture of women's cycling at multiple levels that helps to normalise bicycle riding.Girls dropping out of school because of being harassed on school busses is changed by introducing a bicycle. Ladies events, ladies out training, ladies commuting, cycling ladies in the media all work towards making this extraordinary way of moving acceptable to more people. Acceptable and normal to ladies who have no intention to compete but no less important.
ChainGuard Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 Very disheartened to see 90% of references to ladies and bikes on The Hub being objectification/porn/slut poses with various bikes and components.Sigh.
TALUS Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 Very disheartened to see 90% of references to ladies and bikes on The Hub being objectification/porn/slut poses with various bikes and components.Sigh. There is a whole thread that only post lady Pro bikers - surely you don't object to the fact that some of them are pretty too. If you hang around a bit longer you will find a pretty good middle ground on most topics here.
Mntboy Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 Very disheartened to see 90% of references to ladies and bikes on The Hub being objectification/porn/slut poses with various bikes and components.Sigh.I'm a semi regular poster in the Lady Pro's thread that Talus mentioned. I find the women whom I've posted photos of to be attractive in their own way and not because of some pose a photographer required of them. And typically I got to know about them because of their athletic ability and not their looks. Additionally I admire and respect their achievements and think it unfair that they don't always get compensated in a similar manner to their male counterparts. To assume that all we want from female cyclists is for them to be eye candy is a bit far off the mark.
Long Wheel Base Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 Very disheartened to see 90% of references to ladies and bikes on The Hub being objectification/porn/slut poses with various bikes and components.Sigh. If you know much about the hub you will see the guy that actually started this thread is the same guy that does majority of the posting for the thread you complaining about so in my mind he is posting it all in good taste. If your not happy about the lady pro's thread then don't open it. Rather go read the "youngsters take off on your own please" thread, Also has a few trolls there.
Wayne Potgieter Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 So...my event has been canned. Despite several LARGE corporates promising to come on board, no one did. Strange...i thought it was a really great idea. Maybe we should all do a "Ride in Drag" at big red barn in protest.
NicoBoshoff Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 I think a lot can be said for a certain mindset that says that women's races simply aren't as entertaining. Yes ladies races are on average slower than the men's but I think can be just as entertaining and should therefore receive the same viewership, sponsorship and prize money. Now if they were racing in bikinis things would be very different...just saying. The mindset needs to change...You presume that viewership is anything but a reflection of interest, Just as entertaining to you perhaps. Numbers are amoral.
Disylizzy Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 So...my event has been canned. Despite several LARGE corporates promising to come on board, no one did. Strange...i thought it was a really great idea. Maybe we should all do a "Ride in Drag" at big red barn in protest. Seriously not cool. If you look at the PPA Heels on Wheels events, there's always a huge turnout from the ladies.
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