2017-03-21
Next week the noise and pollution of Melbourne's grand prix will descend on the city, along with declining numbers of sports tourists injecting an unconfirmed sum of money into the Victorian economy with dubious benefits. As tradition apparently dictates, grid girls will meet and greet fans and pose for photographs.
Claims that the grid girls' uniforms are this year glamorous, not gaudy, miss the point entirely. The problem with the concept of grid girls is not the cut of their outfit but the implicit message they send that women can be employed purely for the entertainment and gratification of men. The South Australian government recognises this and last year refused to fund Adelaide's Clipsal 500 race as long as grid girls were involved. It also paved the way for podium models at the Tour Down Under cycling race to be replaced with talented junior cyclists. The South Australian government highlighted the contradiction between funding grid girls and podium models while at the same time investing substantially in gender equality.
Late last year the Victorian government launched its gender equality strategy. This was a welcome and much-needed initiative, but it must be followed with consistent action across the board. Currently this is undermined by the persistence of traditions that treat women as mere garnishes at sporting events. I would encourage the minister, who this week made some comments that were wholly vague and sitting on the fence, to come out with some very clear statements in support of gender equality.