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A Women's Championship In The Buff?
Blog Date - 21 December 2012
Oh my goodness, what a thorny subject to try and deal with. I'm at risk of appearing sexist, bigoted and old fashioned if I dare to make any statement that causes offense, but I'll try anyhow.
According to Thundersport GB's website they are to launch "The Original BUFF Women's Championship"
thundersportgb.com/component/content/article/97-the-original-buff-womens-championship.
This is a championship purely for the female riders. On first impressions I thought that would mean a series of races where ladies compete against other ladies in their own all female races. On further reading it appears the ladies ride in the various regular classes that Thundersport run and accrue points in these classes towards the Women's Championship.
I find myself asking why? Why do women need...or do women need...their own championship? In most other sports men and women compete separately for example tennis, track and field, cycling and swimming. So why not in motorsport too? Some may argue that the machine, in this case a motorcycle, does the "work", a lady's bike can be just as powerful and fast as a man's so she is on a level playing field.
But then riding a motorcycle requires some strength and endurance, typically a man can be stronger than a woman. There may be advantages to being female. Typically ladies are smaller than men and this allows greater aerodynamic efficiency, lighter than men so the overall package is lighter and they look much better in leathers than men...oh...thats not relevant is it. Apologies.
So there are physical reasons for and against having an all female championship. There are other issues too. I think it's great to encourage ladies into motorsport as it is men but is there a risk of patronising women by giving them their own championship? It may be seen as "Here is a chance for you to compete against fellow like minded female racers" or it may be seen it as "Here we are little girl, go and play with the other girls".
How seriously would an all female championship be taken? Presently similar female championships don't do so well, take football as an example. Whilst male players make £100,000 PER WEEK I imagine the women's England team who played so well in the Olympics work 9 till 5 then come home to make tea for the kids. In major events such as Wimbledon it's the men's final that ends the tournament. I don't think Thundersport GB help when they suggest that female riders "get in the Buff" and join the championship....
I hope the championship brings more female riders into motorsport. I hope it grows to become a respected and hard fought series. I remain open to argument about whether ladies need separate classes within motorsport or not. I wonder if "Brolly Dollys" will be replace on the grid for the lady riders with hunky "Brolly Boys". It's only when I look I realise how male orientated motorsport is. I think it'll be nice to see the pwetty girls go ride their wittle bwum bwums awound the twack. Damn...failed.
Reader's Comments
Nikki said :-
Wonderful post Ren !! Completely Agree ( may e cos I'm a woman lol )
There are some wicked lady riders out there ! Get the sexy lady image on bikes instead of of half naked holding a brolly ??although the idea of m own brolly man ??would you be mine Ren ??x
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I'll be your brolly boy Nikki...but I want payment...IN CAKE!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Vicki said :-
Hate to say this Ren but I actually agree with you. May I also add when I visit the NEC bits show I feel humiliated by the half naked girls draped over the bikes. I think more people would be impressed if the girls could ride the machines. I would also enjoy the experience of a track day with a lady tutor, how cool would that be.
Thanks Ren.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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