tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post4789746908723134297..comments2023-12-09T00:49:20.257-05:00Comments on WWVB : What Would Vannevar Blog?: No Women in the Tour de France : SexismVannevarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513110035186346571noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-61226071732520149602012-07-22T09:47:34.686-04:002012-07-22T09:47:34.686-04:00Hmmm... the thing is: sport, in general, is about ...Hmmm... the thing is: sport, in general, is about being the fastest, the strongest, the BEST and in virtually ALL instances women are just unable to compete with men. It's not sexism, it's a fact of life. If you want sporting equality then how about we start making women play best of 5 sets in Grand Slam tennis matches? Can you imagine how dull those games will become? The trouble with equality is that women only want it on their own terms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-16843531201586987532012-06-30T15:40:04.315-04:002012-06-30T15:40:04.315-04:002 normal pictures would have been better, rather t...2 normal pictures would have been better, rather then a picture of a pouting blonde and a picture of Lance pulling the worse expression he practically could and coming across biased. <br /><br />I agree women should be able to compete in races with men, PROVIDING we can compete competitively with them, against someone who is at the samelevel, if it's just for the sake of being a mixed race it's rediculous. I can understand people want to see the fastest, strongest or most talented "person" in the world at the specific event be it female or male, but with sport, that is in general men, there are a lot of sporting events now where the most famous women get as much recognition as men, but a lot is also to do with business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-12420773210572125722012-06-20T22:00:26.247-04:002012-06-20T22:00:26.247-04:00I have no problem letting the men have thier fun. ...I have no problem letting the men have thier fun. It's not really that big a deal to have separate races, I prefer competing against those who are just like me. That way someone can show thier true colors against an even background. If it's that big a deal to other people why not just go straight to the ASO? ask them directly and not just automatically assume they are out to get us girls.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-51556695064474216352012-03-20T04:43:37.353-04:002012-03-20T04:43:37.353-04:00there are many separate sports event for both the ...there are many separate sports event for both the sexes. it is not discrimination. but women's tour should be big and equally challenging. if yelena insinbayeva can do so much in pole vault, so can many more ladies in any field. the having of a tour and encouraging participation is of most important.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-78251158193483672252011-07-05T16:06:27.293-04:002011-07-05T16:06:27.293-04:00I also think there should be a women's tour, b...I also think there should be a women's tour, but more importantly, that Liz Hatch is great looking :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-78539462177450233832010-07-10T15:23:49.102-04:002010-07-10T15:23:49.102-04:00It's more about the viewers wanting to see the...It's more about the viewers wanting to see the best. Not enough people watch the LPGA or the WNBA to pay the advertising dollars like the NBA, PGA, and men's Tour de France pays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-29253301359802958282010-07-07T15:46:06.194-04:002010-07-07T15:46:06.194-04:00Out of curiosity, I did some research on how cycli...Out of curiosity, I did some research on how cyclists qualify for the Tour de France. Wasn't able to find much except for this article: http://www.helium.com/items/1530664-how-to-qualify-for-the-tour-de-france.<br /><br />If this article is correct, the Tour de France is open only to invited teams, not invited individuals. Also, the invitations are entirely at the discretion of the ASO, the French organization that runs the Tour.<br /><br />Since the ASO has never invited an all-woman team to the Tour de France, I suppose you could say they are sexist in that sense. They would probably counter that they are not since they hold a separate event for women only, because they do not believe women can compete on a totally equal level with men because of physiological reasons (body fat levels, testosterone, etc).<br /><br />My question is: if there was a "co-ed" pro team that included a woman cyclist along with men, would the ASO consider inviting them, or would they automatically be excluded because they have a female member? That would be the real test as to whether or not the Tour de France is sexist.<br /><br />I don't think we'll ever know the answer, since I do not believe there currently is a top pro cycling team that is co-ed. If there is, I'd love to hear about them. <br /><br />I think most pro cycling organizations believe that, all other things being equal, women cyclists are simply not as fast and as strong as men because of the physiological and biological reasons aready mentioned, so they therefore keep men's and women's teams separate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-7853593812868584152010-07-04T07:30:19.500-04:002010-07-04T07:30:19.500-04:00A query to Lyle and Anonymous: How do (male) cycli...A query to Lyle and Anonymous: How do (male) cyclists qualify for the Tour de France? If a female cyclist is competitive, can she qualify? My understanding is that NO, she cannot - the Tour de France EXCLUDES WOMEN FROM PARTICIPATING on the basis of their sex, not their performance. If this is the case, then it is sexist. But if some women have tried to qualify and failed - as equals within the rules of the game - then it is not....more info please!SibaFemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05632323857970355429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-38561353021979445222009-11-24T13:35:54.246-05:002009-11-24T13:35:54.246-05:00Just an observation- the Grande Boucle Feminin, pr...Just an observation- the Grande Boucle Feminin, probably ranks below the Women's Tour de L'Aude in terms of prestige if you were seeking a comparative example.<br /><br />Also you do Women's professional cycling a grave diservice by choosing Liz Hatch as an example. No offense to the young lady but she is third string at best. She is better at marketing than finding the finish line. She has to date no victories of any note (or podiums for that matter) in any of the professional US or European races she's contested.<br /><br />Better examples might have been Pooley, Cooke, Vos or Susanne Lungskog. If you looking for a result getter to market perhaps Rochelle Gilmore.<br /><br />But not Liz Hatch. She jsut perpetuates stereotypes of a different sort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-34727476291512180242009-07-23T13:47:57.144-04:002009-07-23T13:47:57.144-04:00if they can jump as high, run as fast, hit a baseb...if they can jump as high, run as fast, hit a baseball, catch a pass, etc...why not let women play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-2670190039166148582009-07-23T09:54:23.348-04:002009-07-23T09:54:23.348-04:00Sorry Lyle, but NONE of the top female cyclists in...Sorry Lyle, but NONE of the top female cyclists in the world would outperform ANY of the male cyclists in the TdF. It wouldn't even be close... In fact, *most* male collegiate riders would beat the top female pros. Just Google some fixed distance courses that have hosted both male and female races.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-62991404647359508652009-07-22T18:25:50.412-04:002009-07-22T18:25:50.412-04:00There is no doubt that *some* top female cyclist c...There is no doubt that *some* top female cyclist could outperform *some* of the male cyclists on the TdF. So, that said, if one of those some female cyclists wanted to ride in the Tour, would she be allowed? The publicity for the team that hired her would be phenomenal. I'll bet that nobody would dare deny her the opportunity.<br /><br />I'd like to ask Emma Pooley if she's ever considered riding in the Tour as a second-stringer, and if she'd prefer that to the chance to win the GB.Lylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11747334597464373005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-74509075803492648772009-07-19T17:27:50.052-04:002009-07-19T17:27:50.052-04:00Dear Anony 7/19 5:12 -- I agree, and I did stray i...Dear Anony 7/19 5:12 -- I agree, and I did stray into objectification - I'm sorry. The point I wanted to make (and failed to) was: if this is really about marketing and media, it would be all women, or mostly women.<br /><br />If I may- on the next in the series, <a href="http://vannevar.blogspot.com/2009/07/women-cyclist-heirs-alfonsina-strada.html" rel="nofollow">http://vannevar.blogspot.com/2009/07/women-cyclist-heirs-alfonsina-strada.html</a> "The Heirs of Alfonsina Strada", I hope I've done a decent job of spotlighting women cyclists without resorting to cheesecake. Cheers, Vannevar.Vannevarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08513110035186346571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-2337040769795618462009-07-19T17:13:47.492-04:002009-07-19T17:13:47.492-04:00Still, I appreciate that you raised the question. ...Still, I appreciate that you raised the question. The same one occurred to me yesterday -- why no women?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-88196706097079951442009-07-19T17:12:23.646-04:002009-07-19T17:12:23.646-04:00It doesn't help women athletes in the long run...It doesn't help women athletes in the long run if you suggest that they can attract fans primarily because of their hotness instead of their talent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-62950303837816028962009-07-17T18:53:48.385-04:002009-07-17T18:53:48.385-04:00You're quite right that I stretched to find th...You're quite right that I stretched to find the photo to show next to Hatch, and - confessing - I had to go to the Tour de Suisse to find one. That fellow's won at least one stage more than I have (none). <br /><br />I just think that "They" (TDF organizers ASO) should support women's cycling as well as men's. I don't think they should put women on men TdF squads, but I have to believe that there's room for a little bit of a Title IX perspective. For instance, Predictor-Lotto in last year's tour- the Sponsor (Predictor) makes early pregnancy tests.<br /><br />You're also right that I'm stretching a bit. I'll work on it. <br /><br />I try not to gripe without offering an alternative, so in two or three days I'll be offering an alternative Tour De France profile. Maybe it'll advance the discussion.<br /><br />Thanks very much for your thoughts and your comment! Cheers! Vannevar.Vannevarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08513110035186346571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141070.post-25302571664283609632009-07-17T16:47:15.404-04:002009-07-17T16:47:15.404-04:00I do think, like most sports, there is an unbalanc...I do think, like most sports, there is an unbalanced amount of support and coverage of mens cycling. Still, you're stretching too far to try and make your point.<br /><br />I mean... of course, people would rather see a sexy Liz Hatch shot to an awkward celebration shot. Sadly, few talented cyclists are as photogenic as Hatch. VeloNews seems to have more competitive women on the cover than most cycling magazines.. I wonder if those women help sell magazines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com