The Famous Racing Series Formula 1 Says No to Grid Girls. Read it here.

In the latter part of the year 2017, the world witnessed a lot of changes as the women empowering movement tagged #metoo saw the world of entertainment take a beating, which led to a lot of positive shifts in the ways things are done today, the effect of that movement was carried into 2018 which I am thinking might have led to the giant racing series Formula 1,  deciding to stop hiring grid girls; “grid girls,” are the scantily-clad models who parade around the driving track to rally fans.

“Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas where we felt we needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport,” Sean Bratches, a Formula 1 rep, wrote Wednesday in a press release, of the decision that goes into effect on March 25.

“While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 Grands Prix for decades, we feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values and clearly is at odds with modern-day societal norms. We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.”

The concept of “grid girls” has often been under fire for being sexist and objectifying. One such example is from 2015 when F1 driver Lewis Hamilton sprayed a grid girl in the face with champagne after winning the Chinese Grand Prix. However, the 22-year-old model, Liu Siying, told the UK’s Guardian of the incident, “It lasted for only one or two seconds, and I didn’t think too much about it.”

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In 2015, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton sprayed a grid girl model in the face with champagne after winning the Chinese Grand Prix. (Photo: Getty Images)

But there’s no clear-cut answer as to whether these roles are outdated or should be eliminated in our #MeToo and #TimesUp era. While some cheered Formula 1’s decision in favor of women’s equality, others claimed the move was antifeminist, particularly because eliminating these jobs now leaves many unemployed.

“Because of these feminists, they’ve have cost us our jobs!” tweeted grid girl Lauren Jade Pope, who did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. “I have been a grid girl for 8 years and I have never felt uncomfortable! I love my job, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t do it! No one forces us to do this! This is our choice!”

Story was published first in Yahoo - lifestyle - https://goo.gl/vUw4Dw