Every car show around the world employs models. The LA Auto Show was no different as many automakers assigned attractive young women to stand next to their cars to draw as many eyes as possible to the glittering new lines and concept cars.
In his post-LA Auto Show commentary, stemmed Canadian automotive writer David Booth took issue with the practice and asked how long it would be before automakers stopped the cheesecake practice. Now, I’m not just blowing smoke up his Tim Horton’s when I throw “esteemed” at Booth. He’s a true veteran, well-known and respected across both the automotive and motorcycle journalism worlds. He often pisses people off, and that’s rare for a Canadian. I like that.
Still, I took issue with his column on this occasion, and with those aggressively agreeing with it. In defense of the models working the auto show floor, I penned the editorial below. No one is going to mistake me for a civil rights activist or a sensitive feminist (or a sensitive anything, really). In this case, I was just wondering if anyone bothered to think about the women working for a living up there.
Related: LA Auto Show 2014: New Discovery Sport
Haloed pontificating isn’t proof of a problem with models at auto shows, and no one bothers to demonstrate harm beyond his or her evident offense. I imagine you guys walk around offended by the world most of the time, so it would take too long to fix that to-do list.
What could be more privileged and, yes, elitist than some car writers in all their smug worldly wisdom arbitrarily deciding that modeling isn’t a legitimate job for a woman? It’s clear you believe the models we’re looking at up there are some kind of misguided, stupid dupes suckered in by the evil auto industry.
What’s the difference between that prejudiced nonsense and someone else looking at those same women standing in front of those cars and deciding they’re mere eye candy? You’ve both objectified that woman as if they’re somehow beneath you and awaiting passage of sentence. You applaud yourself for your gender equality concerns, yet you’ve obviously decided that a woman working as a model is fit for your disdain and pity. So, I’d hold off on singing, “We shall overcome…”
I’d love somehow to organize a posse of those same models, march them to you guys and say, “This Star Chamber here decided what you do is wrong, and they want to make sure you don’t do it anymore.” I’m sure once they see your disgust, they’ll gladly give their paychecks over to you for shredding.
Here’s a challenge to your worldview: Whether a woman wants to be an engineer or a model or a pop star or a doctor, let that woman work the job she chooses without the likes of you guys wagging your disapproving fingers in her direction. Maybe allow the woman to decide whether she wants to take a modeling job in front of a car. If it offends her, or if she considers the work beneath her, I think she’s probably smart enough to avoid the audition — unless the Elite Agency is conducting street abductions.
