OUR VISION
Racingmedia Girls is a platform that aims to make women feel more welcome in the world of motorsport. Many still have the wrong mindset, thinking women watch for good-looking drivers. We're done with these comments and want to show that women watch for the same reasons as men. That's why we founded RMG, a platform where both men and women can share their passion for Formula 1 and motorsport.
OUR VISION
My name is Lola de Jong, founder of Racingmedia Girls. I am twenty years old and come from the Netherlands. Want to get to know me better? Then be sure to click here.
When you look at the Formula 1 community, you see more and more women interested in this sport. However, whether we women are welcomed with open arms is another story. In the past, Formula 1 was a male-dominated sport. Despite all the drivers still being men, you increasingly see women working in the sport or being fans. However, there are still many prejudices from men. I have often encountered this myself. I believe that every female F1 fan can relate to these questions:
You must be a fan of Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc because they are handsome!
Oh really, do you understand Formula 1? Then explain what DRS is!
You watch Formula 1? Haha, yes, only because there are handsome drivers.
And was I right? You’ve probably heard one of these comments before. One time, I was on the train back from the Dutch Grand Prix when two men approached me. 'Oh, you’re from Zandvoort? What were you doing there?' I replied that I had gone to the Grand Prix. Immediately, I got the question, 'Who are you a fan of?' with a look suggesting they thought I only knew Max Verstappen.
So, I proudly said (because Lando had won) that I’m a fan of Lando Norris. A little later, I got the question, 'So you’re a fan of Lando Norris because he’s handsome?' To which I looked at him in disbelief and said, 'No, of course not. He’s just really good, which he proved today.' I then received a surprised look and the genuine question, 'No, really?' I replied, 'Aren’t you a Verstappen fan because you find him handsome?' And then there was silence.
Not everyone has bad intentions; some genuinely believe that we women watch Formula 1 for that reason. I don’t know if you’ve ever watched a race, but those handsome faces aren’t visible under helmets while they zoom past me at 300 km/h.
I think, for the men who have no bad intentions, they should first ask themselves the question: 'Does this sound strange if I would ask this to a man?' If so, don’t ask it! For example, if you asked a man, 'Are you a fan of Fernando Alonso because you think he’s handsome?' you'd be laughed at. But when the same question is asked by a man to a woman, it suddenly seems normal. So, think before you say or ask something, and maybe first ask yourself the question first.
The point of my story is that women need to be more accepted in this sport.
And that is why I founded Racingmedia Girls. While we may have "girls" in our name, we want to make no distinction between different genders. We are a platform where, no matter your gender, you can share your passion for Formula 1. Men are certainly welcome at Racingmedia Girls. It is, in fact, a platform where everyone is welcome, where everyone is respected for the driver they support, and where we also share sportsmanship and a healthier rivalry.
The whole point we want to make is that men and women should be seen as equal. There should be no difference between fans of either gender. We all watch for the same reasons: for the spectacle that Formula 1 brings, the sport, the drivers, the teams, the rivalries, the stories behind it all, the incredible sound of the cars, and so much more!
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