There are few things I love more than bikes and feminism. As a racer and rider for all of my adult life, I have been thrilled to see the progress in the sport in the last several years.
A quick down and dirty of some accomplishments:
- The US Pro Challenge launches a women's component to the race
- The first women's cycling club is founded in Afghanistan
- Amanda Batty launched Proving Possible to get more women into the sport
- The VIDA clinic series and Betti Bike Bash expanded into new states
- Rapha's Global Women's Ride reached record numbers
This list could go on. Across the country women are mobilizing on the grassroots level to demand equity in race time and opportunity. From the bottom-up, this change is happening. As the number of women in all disciplines of the sport grows, so too does the positive impacts bikes have on people's lives.
However, while grassroots bottom-up change is happening quickly and inclusively (this wouldn't be complete without a shout-out to the hundreds of men I personally know promoting egalitarianism because more people on bikes is just awesome for everyone), the top-down change is far behind.
Institutionally, the failure of the UCI to fairly address women in the sport has been well documented. This change will be slow, but at least small cracks in the institution are starting to be seen. What is more disturbing is the lack of top-down leadership in cultural change.
Earlier this year, Pink Bike was the topic of discussion as they were confronted by one of their contributors about fostering rape culture. The fact that in 2015 we still view women in the sport, not as individuals worthy of praise and respect for their accomplishments, but as stand-in icons for sexual epitaphs, is worrisome. Both men and women coming into the sport look to industry cultural leaders - like Pink Bike - for their gear reviews and discussion. Is this really how we want to welcome new comers into the fold?
The latest contributor to this tsunami of bike culture sexism comes from Enduro Magazine. Oh Enduro, have you not seen the latest market research that sex really doesn't sell? And, for what it's worth, women like dream bikes and dream vacations just as much as our XY chromosome counterparts. With Euduro being the fastest growing discipline in the sport, there is a unique opportunity to tap into a fast growing market of both men and women coming to the sport. This doesn't require sexual pandering to either gender. However, continuing to perpetuate the woman-as-object bias will do nothing to help growth.
In the beginning pages of their magazine, Enduro asks, "Who's got the guts to stand up for what they believe in?" Well, Enduro, if you haven't been watching, women who ride bikes clearly do. More and more women believe in the fact that the can shred, they can race, they can ride, and are standing up for the equal and accurate representation in doing so. People believe in bikes, Enduro, and I hope you are willing to come along for the ride as the tide is changing.
It's easy to point fingers at Enduro and accuse them of belittling the hundreds of women doing incredible things for the sport. Clearly the calls for featuring photos of badass racers who happen to be women has largely fallen on deaf ears. Trying to strong arm top-down cultural change is a losing proposition. However, I hope that Enduro's challenge will be heard by the grassroots masses, and that both men and women looking to grow the sport will continue to advocate for it without bias. In conforming to stereotypes, they opened the door to change with a challenging question. Lets show them we have the guts to stand up for what we believe is right in the sport.
A quick down and dirty of some accomplishments:
- The US Pro Challenge launches a women's component to the race
- The first women's cycling club is founded in Afghanistan
- Amanda Batty launched Proving Possible to get more women into the sport
- The VIDA clinic series and Betti Bike Bash expanded into new states
- Rapha's Global Women's Ride reached record numbers
This list could go on. Across the country women are mobilizing on the grassroots level to demand equity in race time and opportunity. From the bottom-up, this change is happening. As the number of women in all disciplines of the sport grows, so too does the positive impacts bikes have on people's lives.
However, while grassroots bottom-up change is happening quickly and inclusively (this wouldn't be complete without a shout-out to the hundreds of men I personally know promoting egalitarianism because more people on bikes is just awesome for everyone), the top-down change is far behind.
Institutionally, the failure of the UCI to fairly address women in the sport has been well documented. This change will be slow, but at least small cracks in the institution are starting to be seen. What is more disturbing is the lack of top-down leadership in cultural change.
Earlier this year, Pink Bike was the topic of discussion as they were confronted by one of their contributors about fostering rape culture. The fact that in 2015 we still view women in the sport, not as individuals worthy of praise and respect for their accomplishments, but as stand-in icons for sexual epitaphs, is worrisome. Both men and women coming into the sport look to industry cultural leaders - like Pink Bike - for their gear reviews and discussion. Is this really how we want to welcome new comers into the fold?
The latest contributor to this tsunami of bike culture sexism comes from Enduro Magazine. Oh Enduro, have you not seen the latest market research that sex really doesn't sell? And, for what it's worth, women like dream bikes and dream vacations just as much as our XY chromosome counterparts. With Euduro being the fastest growing discipline in the sport, there is a unique opportunity to tap into a fast growing market of both men and women coming to the sport. This doesn't require sexual pandering to either gender. However, continuing to perpetuate the woman-as-object bias will do nothing to help growth.
In the beginning pages of their magazine, Enduro asks, "Who's got the guts to stand up for what they believe in?" Well, Enduro, if you haven't been watching, women who ride bikes clearly do. More and more women believe in the fact that the can shred, they can race, they can ride, and are standing up for the equal and accurate representation in doing so. People believe in bikes, Enduro, and I hope you are willing to come along for the ride as the tide is changing.
It's easy to point fingers at Enduro and accuse them of belittling the hundreds of women doing incredible things for the sport. Clearly the calls for featuring photos of badass racers who happen to be women has largely fallen on deaf ears. Trying to strong arm top-down cultural change is a losing proposition. However, I hope that Enduro's challenge will be heard by the grassroots masses, and that both men and women looking to grow the sport will continue to advocate for it without bias. In conforming to stereotypes, they opened the door to change with a challenging question. Lets show them we have the guts to stand up for what we believe is right in the sport.
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