token attractive woman

[find_bruce]

I was surprised that Brittan's best selling cycling magazine went to print with a photo labeling a cyclist as the "token attractive woman"

Seriously, what rock has the cretin responsible for this been living under ?

The editor has issued a grovelling apology, throwing an unnamed sub-editor under the bus.

This would be the same magazine that took the high moral ground in condemning Colnago's sexist tweet

All power to Hannah Noel for standing up & her mates from the Hinckley Cycle Racing Club for supporting her.

[fat and old]

Seriously, what rock has the cretin responsible for this been living under ?

I clicked, along with 54 (to date) others.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

I was surprised that Brittan's best selling cycling magazine went to print with a photo labeling a cyclist as the "token attractive woman"

Seriously, what rock has the cretin responsible for this been living under ?

The editor has issued a grovelling apology, throwing an unnamed sub-editor under the bus.

This would be the same magazine that took the high moral ground in condemning Colnago's sexist tweet

All power to Hannah Noel for standing up & her mates from the Hinckley Cycle Racing Club for supporting her.

You're just miffed that the description will never be applied to you.

[Neddysmith]

Im offended that people get offended so easily these days.....

[Nobody]

Im offended that people get offended so easily these days.....

[trailgumby]

I think those getting offended may be reading it wrong.

It seems to me the crack was aimed at the magazine and its gender bias in reporting, not the woman in the photo. An underling giving his bosses a slap, as it were.

Consequently, I'm finding the fact it slipped past the keeper to the boundary rather hilarious.

To the sub-editor responsible, I say well played. A quiet off-the-record apology and explanation to the female cyclist affected would be in order, though.

[jules21]

the real source of offence to be taken is the more-than-a-bit of truth in the caption, rather than the fact it was written down. but most people don't want to take offence at that. probably including me, if I'm honest

[Philistine]

Im offended that people get offended so easily these days.....

Not just offended but "gutted". Hinckley must be the most cyclist-friendly town on Earth. Somebody should warn the precious little petal never to attempt to ride a bike in Sydney, lest she hear stuff that will have her jumping off her bike and curling up in the foetal position.

And if Cyclist Weekly is gender biassed - so what! News flash! 90% of active cyclists (and 100% of the fast ones) are male. When did it become a crime for a specialist magazine to cater for its target audience?

[find_bruce]

I think those getting offended may be reading it wrong.

It seems to me the crack was aimed at the magazine and its gender bias in reporting, not the woman in the photo. An underling giving his bosses a slap, as it were.

Consequently, I'm finding the fact it slipped past the keeper to the boundary rather hilarious.

To the sub-editor responsible, I say well played. A quiet off-the-record apology and explanation to the female cyclist affected would be in order, though.

Interesting theory TG, any evidence for it ?

[trailgumby]

Interesting theory TG, any evidence for it ?

None, other than it seemed like a rational explanation, is definitely the kind of prank I'd pull if I felt I wasn't otherwise being heard, and the woman doesn't strike me as being - according to popular standards of today - especially attractive (although she may well be a lovely human being and scores major brownie points for putting herself out there, and paying attention to being physically active and keeping fit).

The shock and horror in the media seems rather overplayed. You'd have to be pretty misogynistic to actually mean that in the way in the way it's being read in the outrage factory that is tabloid media, and I see that as being much less likely especially among the Gen X and Gen Y staff on a magazine like this.

Of course, I could be a completely unrealistic optimist in the way I'm reading this. We'll never know.

Incidentally, and completely off-topic, I noticed over the last month that News Corp has pretty much reinstated the skimpily attired (and in one case - un-attired) Page 3 girl in the Daily Telegraph. First time I've looked closely at that rag for years. When did that come back?Seriously unimpressed. Thought we'd moved past that exploitative and sexist claptrap years ago.

[AUbicycles]

The reason why this happened is sloppiness and cheekiness by an individual and an oversight by editors. If it does reflect the corporate culture of the publication - certainly improve on it, but it could be the stupidness of one individual who has now embarrassed everyone.

The rider reaction was fair and some others are going overboard - but the apology was quick and if it means a slap on the risk for the dill or a reflection and improvement of corporate culture, then it also helps others become more conscious of their responsibility in reporting professionally and respectfully.

[find_bruce]

It is not a prank on the level of James May's autocar

Perhaps our reactions are a reflection of our experiences - I regularly deal with the consequences of harassment & see how this attitude reflects in behaviour. I appreciated BFV's ironic use of a 50s fallacious response by serial sexual harassers.

It seems that those working at Macquarie Bank think that such attitudes & behaviours are normal. You could be forgiven for thinking we have some Macquarie Bankers on this forum.

[Philistine]

It seems that those working at Macquarie Bank think that such attitudes & behaviours are normal. You could be forgiven for thinking we have some Macquarie Bankers on this forum.

If you want to insult everyone who doesn't share your level of outrage at this heinous crime against humanity, can you find a less tortured way of doing it?

[find_bruce]

Some people are so easily offended these days

Macquarie staff accused of upskirting, predatory behaviour in the office

[warthog1]

You could be forgiven for thinking we have some Macquarie Bankers on this forum.

Thanks for that

[bychosis]

I love how we get all this outrage and hate directed at the magazine. Sure, it wasn't appropriate, but the internets are very quick to get all high and mighty and shouty and the media keep trying to maintain the rage when in reality it is pretty minor. Yes, they should apologise. Yes, they shouldn't do it again. Or perhaps back it up with a token pretty boy, or a token **insert your favourite** to balance the books a little. "token fit cyclist" would have not been anywhere near as inflammatory.

Some people need to learn you shouldn't say stuff like that and a lot of people need to lighten up.

[fat and old]

Some people need to learn you shouldn't say stuff like that and a lot of people need to lighten up.

I think the attitude depends a lot on the work environment. Blokes who work in my industry (Civil construction, coal face) are much less likely to see an issue than blokes who work in a professional environment. These attitudes will always be there, latent until a reason to display them presents itself and then voila....his children get a dose of passive sexism. They grow up with a predilection for the same, the cycle continues. Vicious circle.

You think any of what Bruce is saying is bad....go out and spend some time with the Traffic Control girls. Spend some time in the office of a panel beater.

There was an article recently on the bias and sexism against non-anglo women in the workforce. Valid enough it is, but that's at the top end of town (such as with Macquarie). Interestingly enough, it failed to mention the bias and sexism displayed by the males of the various cultures represented. I've seen it first hand in Civil Engineering, and it ain't pretty. Even that has nothing on the low end of town.....where a lot of those Civil engineers are supposed to be the "responsible" ones. I'm pretty sure there was a female member here who had some fairly major issues in a similar situation.

As usual, the educated end of society gets the headlines while the rest of us get ignored. Sure, the culture in the Fortune 500 offices may change, be lauded and feted. But it's just wallpaper.

[foo on patrol]

Wouldn't happen if the bikes where registered.

Foo

[hiflange]

There lot of excuses and comparisons to worse behaviour being made in this thread. They are BS. This should never have been written nor gone to print. Call yourself a man? Lift your game.

[Davobel]

My first thought was that this was a 'rough' copy, not the final copy. Some writer was just making a silly joke because honestly there are a lot of attractive women in cycling. Different people have different ways of blowing off steam at work. This mistake made me laugh as there are far greater problems in the world right now.

[hiflange]

"Blowing off steam at work" Somehow this an excuse?
"There are far greater problems in the world right now." Somehow this problem should be ignored?
You're part of the problem.