We often talk about women's equality in cycling as if it's a luxury that's lent out on the odd occasion to soften the demands for parity. To enjoy the same conditions and benefits that the men take for granted has in the past been treated as a reluctant step, and there's the perception that women won't be able to cope with climbing the same hills or providing anything like the same level of entertainment.
If you're wondering, that kind of neglect or lack of respect is described nowadays as unconscious bias. If you've been on the appropriate HR training course you'll be au fait with the correct terminology but it partly boils down to whether women's racing will provide a similar value to men's for all the effort of organising a race and incurring the associated costs.
Of course there's always someone who pipes up with the chicken and egg argument and that the majority of people don't follow female races. But then if there's no women's race then there's no possibility of media coverage and then there definitely won't be any interest.
ADVERTISEMENT
But for proof that interest can grow and that there is interest in women's sport we only have to look at the big steps women's football or soccer has taken in recent years.
At the recent the Tour de Yorkshire, organisers ASO have taken that step in having the men and the women race the same route with exactly the same organisational quality. Safety, media opportunities, promotion and prize money have all been given equal billing. There are no ifs, buts or maybes involved. The Women's Tour de Yorkshire is a proper full on ASO bike race with everything that entails. Same signage, same road book and enjoying the same crowds, although it does remain at two days while the men race over four.
Hannah Barnes, who has raced all over Europe, added her thoughts to the situation when I spoke to her after the final stage.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/philippa-york-womens-cycling-and-the-road-towards-equality
No comments:
Post a Comment