Twitter tipster’s tasteless list causes turmoil online
SEXISM unfortunately is an ever-present issue within sport, and the great industry of thoroughbred racing is not exempt from its archaic rhetoric.
For the purposes of not promoting misogynistic garbage, we have elected not to directly link the story in question here, but a Twitter tipster deemed it fit to piece together an article that ranked female jockeys based on their looks, rather than their riding ability.
Naturally, there was some blow-back to the idea and we thought we’d capture the response.
So Weekend King Racing is now collecting an album of “hottest” female jockeys with comments like “stunning filly” … foul.
— Scott Murdoch (@murdochsj) July 3, 2017
We know what you are asking yourself and no, the world has not magically been transferred back to the 50s.
Why are female jockeys being objectified? I thought the sport was better than that.
— S.B. (@lollyexpert) July 3, 2017
This is exactly the type of material that the racing industry has been trying to distance itself from over the few decades.
Love her or loathe her, female jockey Michelle Payne’s impact on thoroughbred game has been profound.
Her ability to raise the profile of women’s roles within a typically male dominated world has been exemplary – but it is lists like this that unravel all the great work the 2015 Melbourne Cup winner is doing.
To say this article caused a furore would be to downplay it. Thankfully, very few took the author’s “work” as genuine.
Stop with your sexist bullshit. Celebrate them for their skills, you numpties.
— Liz Burke (@LizAgnes) July 4, 2017
Some even went as far – quite rightly – as to alert affiliate partners of the unseemly nature of that article.
Hey @ladbrokescomau you should search Weekend King Racing… Sucj a lovely affiliate to have in the program
— Tim (@TimThwaites1) July 4, 2017
We are not ones to just scold an account for the sake of it, so when the account in question elected to defend itself we saw it fit to include their response.
And wait just a second no one is being judged it’s purely light hearted fun that the 100s & 100s of women who I totally respect are enjoying
— Weekend King Racing (@WeekendKingRace) July 4, 2017
The account even went as far as to say it was not a sexist piece.
The lot have you have totally blown whole issue right out of proportion. I’m not sexist, never have, never will be. Anyway good riddance
— Weekend King Racing (@WeekendKingRace) July 4, 2017
The fact that the list is sexist is self-evident however, so we are not buying it.
Surely as people we have evolved past the point of ranking people based on their looks rather than the ability in their chosen profession.
@Clare1Lindop this is the sort of shit that pisses me off. Should be judged purely on riding ability!
— Jamie lee kah (@jamieleekah07) July 4, 2017
In a world where people confuse political correctness with genuinely distasteful things, we believe it is beyond the pale to piece together a list like this and not expect it to be widely condemned.
Wow so cutting edge, that’s never been done before ?
— Kassey Dougal (@10kassey) July 4, 2017
The sooner neanderthal-level coverage is driven out of the thoroughbred business so that legitimate lovers of racing can tackle the big issues, the better the industry will be regarded as a whole.
Women are one of the main lifebloods of the racing community, and the industry would collapse without their support, hard-work and dedication. So, rather than the best-looking lists, how about we just laud their impact for the right reasons?