Sexism in Sports, Standing Up for What You Believe.

[tastybasslines]

I would like to bring attention to my former coworker and friend, Leah Petersen, who is a motorcycle sportbike freestyle rider. She can pull off sick tricks, and has given up everything else to follow her dream.

Last year she moved to France to promote the sport, and just recently, went to compete in a competition in Poland where women were advertised on the advertisement promoting it.

12K was made available for the Men's divisions, but the women were told they would receive nothing. Leah and another female rider decided not to compete after learning of this, which they should. I support Leah, and hope that the people that read this post will re-post and support Leah as well.

You can read her comments here: Sexist StuntGP | LeahStunts

TBL

[bassteban]

That would be BS, IMO. NOT BS that she's boycotting, BS that females are treated any differently in this event.

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I would like to bring attention to my former coworker and friend, Leah Petersen, who is a motorcycle sportbike freestyle rider. She can pull off sick tricks, and has given up everything else to follow her dream.

Last year she moved to France to promote the sport, and just recently, went to compete in a competition in Poland where women were advertised on the advertisement promoting it.

12K was made available for the Men's divisions, but the women were told they would receive nothing. Leah and another female rider decided not to compete after learning of this, which they should. I support Leah, and hope that the people that read this post will re-post and support Leah as well.

You can read her comments here: Sexist StuntGP | LeahStunts

TBL

If more women were like her, we would not have this problem as much. Good for her.

[slaps76]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I would like to bring attention to my former coworker and friend, Leah Petersen, who is a motorcycle sportbike freestyle rider. She can pull off sick tricks, and has given up everything else to follow her dream.

Last year she moved to France to promote the sport, and just recently, went to compete in a competition in Poland where women were advertised on the advertisement promoting it.

12K was made available for the Men's divisions, but the women were told they would receive nothing. Leah and another female rider decided not to compete after learning of this, which they should. I support Leah, and hope that the people that read this post will re-post and support Leah as well.

You can read her comments here: Sexist StuntGP | LeahStunts

TBL

"while I can't ride on their level...."

If that's the case across the board for stunting, like every other sport when comparing men vs. women's level of play, I don't see much of an argument.

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by slaps76

"while I can't ride on their level...."

If that's the case across the board for stunting, like every other sport when comparing men vs. women's level of play, I don't see much of an argument.

Well, first, the draw has nothing to do with the level or sex of the rider, considering the promoter is in it for the $.

Second, she is handling a 500 pound bike as a woman, and not a man twice her strength.

Think about it.

[tastybasslines]

Going to try to get back to sleep...back later.

[Longhair]

Maybe the women's draw wouldn't have been big enough to break even if giving them advertising.

Boycotting the event doesn't help her case.

[jmattbassplaya]

I go back and forth on this subject a lot and can't ever seem to find where I stand on it. In regards to this situation, I think it's absolutely disgusting the way she and the other female riders are being treated. It does seem like flat out discrimination to me.

That said, I can't help but think of the recent high school wrestling case where a girl was in the local league with the boys and a lot of boys simply didn't want to wrestle her - be it because they were afraid to lose to a girl, had a moral/religious reason not to, or simply because they didn't want a possible sexual harassment suit on their hands if something got grabbed that was a no-no.

In the first case it's clearly discrimination to me, but in the case of the wrestling league I think there's substantial reason to keep guys and girls separate. I really don't know

[Tituscrow]

For many, women's sports are not seen as exciting or invigorating to watch as the same sport is for men (football, rugby, tennis, golf etc). Sports that require significant strength are naturally going to be played 'more physically' by an athletic man than an athletic woman. This is often reflected in everything from press and tv coverage to prize money.

In sports where men compete on an equal footing - and there aren't many of them - physical prowess is not an issue. Equestrianism springs to mind.

I will happily watch a sport if it's a game I like watching, regardless of the gender of the participants. Golf and tennis bore me, both men's and women's, because I find them dull games (Ryder Cup excepted). However, when I watch athletics or football, I accept that the men will play a faster, stronger game, but that doesn't detract from my admiration and appreciation of the skills displayed by the women.

Several years ago, that noose dodging crook Sepp Blatter instructed the Cameroon FA to stop their players wearing skintight Lycra all-in-one kits, as it was against the traditional shorts and shirts outfit. That same week, he suggested women footballers, in order to draw more fans, should wear skintight Lycra all-in-one kits.

There are still golf clubs that have these archaic no-women rules, despite the fact that someone like Michelle Yeo would competently kick their arses on a golf course.

People in power, be they tv execs or sporting association chairs, generally tend to be men.

Not sure what my point is, but your biker friend sounds like someone with more balls than most of us and good luck to her. I'd pay to see that sort of thing.


However, the worlds fastest man will always be faster than the worlds fastest woman, and people just wanna see speed.

[colcifer]

I have a few words I'd like to use to describe the organizers of that event but I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed on TB. I don't quite follow why you need to separate men and women in a sport featuring motor vehicles though.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by slaps76

"while I can't ride on their level...."

If that's the case across the board for stunting, like every other sport when comparing men vs. women's level of play, I don't see much of an argument.

noticed that too, she doesnt want equality she wants an advantage

[slaps76]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Well, first, the draw has nothing to do with the level or sex of the rider, considering the promoter is in it for the $.

Second, she is handling a 500 pound bike as a woman, and not a man twice her strength.

Think about it.

Why doesn't the draw have anything to do with the level of rider or gender?

I would think actually having a female stunt aspect would help draw with that crowd? On the other hand, if the draw is on riding level, then the females are gonna be at a disadvantage, and shouldn't expect equal payouts.

The main issue here is whether or not the promoter purposely tricked the females into thinking there was a payout for them or not. Otherwise, they can do what they want. Women in the WNBA shouldn't make anywhere close to NBA stars; they simply don't sell as many tickets or merch.

But yea, stunting isn't easy...I've had motorcycles, but never attempted any of that stuff. A learning curve that includes pile-driving yourself into the pavement, often with broken bones and such, it takes a certain breed.

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by Longhair

Maybe the women's draw wouldn't have been big enough to break even if giving them advertising.

Boycotting the event doesn't help her case.

Is she supposed to compete and maybe injure herself for nothing?

If you are promoting a sport, don't you want to do for all? So more people can be involved and interested?

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by slaps76

Why doesn't the draw have anything to do with the level of rider or gender?

I would think actually having a female stunt aspect would help draw with that crowd? On the other hand, if the draw is on riding level, then the females are gonna be at a disadvantage, and shouldn't expect equal payouts.

The main issue here is whether or not the promoter purposely tricked the females into thinking there was a payout for them or not. Otherwise, they can do what they want. Women in the WNBA shouldn't make anywhere close to NBA stars; they simply don't sell as many tickets or merch.

But yea, stunting isn't easy...I've had motorcycles, but never attempted any of that stuff. A learning curve that includes pile-driving yourself into the pavement, often with broken bones and such, it takes a certain breed.

That what I was trying to say - the draw to the event could be bigger because of the women. And there could be many people there who like to see them compete. The promoter maybe made more money by acting like women were invited and then shunned them.

[hbarcat]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Is she supposed to compete and maybe injure herself for nothing?

It isn't about what she is supposed to do, it's about what she expects others to do to make sure she and the other women get paid equally.

Unfortunately, pay is directly proportional to audience draw. This is no different from the music biz. Sure, I want to be paid the same amount as an equally talented younger musician who is slimmer, with a full head of hair and simply looks better in a music video, but it isn't going to happen.

If you are promoting a sport, don't you want to do for all? So more people can be involved and interested?

This reminds me of women's hockey. They're always trying to get people to go to see women's hockey leagues and I am one of the few to actually pay $5 for a ticket to watch a game. The reality is even if you promote the hell out of certain women's sports and throw tons of advertising dollars around and give away prizes and do everything else you can think of you're still only going to get a handful of people to consistently come to see them and that all adds up to ZERO money to pay the athletes. It isn't fair but it isn't the promoter's fault. They have been doing their absolute best to get women's hockey to succeed (I know the same is true for women's basketball) but many of them have gone broke trying.

That's assuming, of course, the promoter is being honest and didn't mislead athletes into participating based on false promises of compensation.