Is There Still Sexism In Biking?

LOL, I do find some of the posts on here amusing!

Yes there is plenty of sexism in bikes, purely because there aren't that many female bikers. When I have chatted to other women and tell them I ride bikes a lot of them say 'oh I couldn't do that, all those guys!'.

Unfortunately there is plenty of it in the bike trade. At the London Show I was buying a back protector and when the salesman asked what bike I ride he reacted with 'you ride that? HOW?!?!?!?' I decided to take it that he was talking about my height not the fact I'm female. Whenever I go bike shopping, the salesguy always talks to Joe not me. But this can be pretty useful as the salesguy is comfortable in his zone talking to a guy and then I pop up with awkward questions and then he suddenly realises its me who is interested in the bike. Nothing like a startled salesguy, hehehe.

When you get any environment that is dominated by a particular group, anything different will always get victimised or ignored or whatever.

I work in a male dominated profession and as it happens, most of my hobbies are male dominated too (probably something to do with having 2 brothers). So what? Does that make me louder or swear more just to fit in? Absolutely not. I like doing what I like doing and anyone who has an issue with that, its exactly that - its their problem not mine.

Quite frankly though, a lot of women bikers don't help themselves very much. Take the women only forums. I was on one until recently where if a guy dared to sign up he was given abuse! Why? Why have a women only forum in the first place? If women riders feel they need to 'prove themselves' even if its a 'yes I ride a bike but I am still a girlie' or 'yes I'm a girl but I can ride a bike just as fast as you' then quite frankly they need to sort out their self esteem.

I enjoy riding my bike and driving cars. Guys just have to deal with it

Originally Posted by Kate

Why? Why have a women only forum in the first place?

Probably to talk about how sexist guys are

Originally Posted by Kate

But this can be pretty useful as the salesguy is comfortable in his zone talking to a guy and then I pop up with awkward questions and then he suddenly realises its me who is interested in the bike. Nothing like a startled salesguy, hehehe.

Quite frankly though, a lot of women bikers don't help themselves very much. Take the women only forums. I was on one until recently where if a guy dared to sign up he was given abuse! Why? Why have a women only forum in the first place? If women riders feel they need to 'prove themselves' even if its a 'yes I ride a bike but I am still a girlie' or 'yes I'm a girl but I can ride a bike just as fast as you' then quite frankly they need to sort out their self esteem.

LOL! Anything you can use to put a seller on their back foot!

Any group of people who segregate themselves and actually mark out a difference or boundary tend to encourage discrimination/distrust, sadly. Why does there have to be a seperate league for men/women in most sports, or a Music of Black Origin awards? Just helps encourage problems by emphasising diffference, be it race, sex, sexual preference or whatever. I know people feel more secure and comfortable around similar thinking people, but the media often tries to make more of this.

But then, we are on an SV forum, rather than a Bike forum! Though obviously, other bikes are tolerated

Originally Posted by gsv

This must cause girls massive amounts of agrovation. In general there is alot of sexism in biking, I think this is due to the media. The only times i have seen women on bikes on tv they have either not been able to touch the ground on bigger bikes with thier feet or be able to support the weight of the bike when sitting on it/ getting on or off.

It is unfair though. Because if you have a license you must have been able to handle a bike.

In my opinion, this isn't necessarily a misrepresentation of the truth though. With women on average shorter and with less upper body strength than guys they're generally going to find it harder to manage/get their feet down on bigger/heavier bikes. now once you're off and riding it doesn't make too much difference, but i'm thinking more for when you're trying to move the bike around to park up, etc

I'm pretty comfortable with my bike but then i deliberately chose something that is relatively light and i can get both feet firrmly on the ground on. I'm not saying that there aren't girls who can competently manage a GS, etc but they're not exactly everywhere now are they? I know far more who shuffle around on tip toes looking a bit uncomfortable til they get the bike moving. In fact the only girl i've seen in 10 years of riding who has caught my attention as being able to really handle a bike at standstill is that girl who turns up in Soho sometimes who spins her gixxer round on the stand, etc

Anyway what' i;msaying is that there's no point denying that there's a difference, you just work around it instead so that you can still get on and ride, etc.

Originally Posted by Bluewolf

If I was the sort of person who wanted to see that in a magazine, I'd buy Playboy or something similar. I don't believe there's any place whatsoever for it in motorcycling literature (and I realise that's stretching the term ) other than to attract the male-dominated market. Perhaps if certain publications took both sides of the market into account they'd sell more?

I can assure you that if MCN had half naked men draped over bikes in it, I'd buy it even less frequently than I do now.

I know what you mean about women in bike magazines. One of the things I like about Bike is that it doesn't have it and I can read it in public without looking like a perv. I would have subscribed to Streetfighters sooner, but was put off by the naked female flesh on display (well, it has its place certainly, but I'd rather drool over bikes). I was talking with my girlfriend about it and she said, well, you mustn't let that put you off buying it, if it's the only mag that focuses on that sort of bike. I decided this was a sensible viewpoint and bought it a lot more often as a result.

I have a mate who is generally a "laddish" chap, who has no objection to female flesh (quite the opposite!), but feels so strongly about its inappropriateness in bike mags, that he won't buy mags with it in.

Originally Posted by Kate

If women riders feel they need to 'prove themselves' even if its a 'yes I ride a bike but I am still a girlie' or 'yes I'm a girl but I can ride a bike just as fast as you' then quite frankly they need to sort out their self esteem.

I enjoy riding my bike and driving cars. Guys just have to deal with it

well said!

Originally Posted by scorpion

There aren't enough female riders out there to warrant a generalised negative attitude towards them if I'm honest.
Come on ladies, get your leathers on and get out there. Rock on!!

I'll second that if Quedos hasn't already (I'm stll reading through the replies!)


Garry

Originally Posted by gsv

This must cause girls massive amounts of agrovation.

No one notices me - Im invisible

Originally Posted by gsv

It is unfair though. Because if you have a license you must have been able to handle a bike.

Precisely, pushed mine round in the road no probs

Originally Posted by gsv

Its tough for women but i think in life in general most men are sexist even if they do not do it on perpose.

Nope not had a problem here either, obviously they do think Im a bloke

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I can assure you that if MCN had half naked men draped over bikes in it, I'd buy it even less frequently than I do now.

I know what you mean about women in bike magazines. One of the things I like about Bike is that it doesn't have it and I can read it in public without looking like a perv. I would have subscribed to Streetfighters sooner, but was put off by the naked female flesh on display (well, it has its place certainly, but I'd rather drool over bikes). I was talking with my girlfriend about it and she said, well, you mustn't let that put you off buying it, if it's the only mag that focuses on that sort of bike. I decided this was a sensible viewpoint and bought it a lot more often as a result.

I have a mate who is generally a "laddish" chap, who has no objection to female flesh (quite the opposite!), but feels so strongly about its inappropriateness in bike mags, that he won't buy mags with it in.

I had a similar discussion with maria regarding superbike magazine; I like reading it, I find there is some usefull information in there about kit and riding etc, but when you turn the page not realising your at the centerfold, it can make you feel a little red in the cheeks. Anyway, maria's response was the same as you got; if its got the info in there that you're looking for, buy it - you dont have to look at the nalf naked girls!

Mind you, i only brought it a couple of times last year when there was some stuff about winter gear and something about riding techniques, both quite usefull but ultimatly not that great. I get more information from asking you guys on here about things.

Matt

Originally Posted by Kate

LOL, I do find some of the posts on here amusing!

When I have chatted to other women and tell them I ride bikes a lot of them say 'oh I couldn't do that, all those guys!'.

Quite frankly though, a lot of women bikers don't help themselves very much. Take the women only forums. Why have a women only forum in the first place? If women riders feel they need to 'prove themselves' even if its a 'yes I ride a bike but I am still a girlie' or 'yes I'm a girl but I can ride a bike just as fast as you' then quite frankly they need to sort out their self esteem.

True words spoken. That's just like women only gyms- what's going on there? "A MAN might SEE me" ??????? W.T.F- Insecure or what? I'm amazed that some of these people ever leave the house. Next we'll have women on the north pavement & men on the south (with double deck busses running down the middle)

Cheers
Garry