Flyer aimed to encourage people to take part in Stockton’s Sportive race and the Stockton Cycling Festival
A leaflet promoting a Stockton cycling event has been withdrawn by council bosses after it was branded as“sexist”.
The flyer for the family event showed a photograph of a male cyclist under the words: “Sarah’s shopping in Stockton with the girls.
“I’m signed up for Stockton’s Sportive.
“That’s Saturday sorted.”
There were only pictures of young male cyclists on the leaftlet.
It led to complaints from cyclists Carole Jones and Yvonne Ramage to Yarm councillor Andrew Sherris.
And now Stockton Council has withdrawn the flyer.
Ms Jones helps run a women-only cycle club called Cycle Sisters.
Cllr Sherris said: “This really is a very poor piece of publicity and undermines the excellent work that the Silver Cyclists and Cycle Sisters do in encouraging cycling for residents throughout the borough.
“Although the offer has been made to produce a supplementary leaflet, this one should be withdrawn.
“If a mistake is made those responsible should be big enough to hold their hands up and admit it.”
The leaflet aimed to encourage people to take part in Stockton’s Sportive race and the Stockton Cycling Festival - a family event which takes place from Friday, July 11, to Sunday, July 13.
Ken Dixon, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for arts, leisure and culture, said: “It was certainly not our intention to imply that women and girls cannot participate in every part of the festival and having listened to the concerns raised, we have decided to withdraw this particular leaflet and produce a redesigned version.
“We do a great deal of work to encourage female participation in sport and active leisure, including women’s running clubs and women’s cycling groups, and unlike many national cycle race events, the Stockton Cycling Festival includes elite women’s racing, as well as recreational rides which are open to all.”
No comments:
Post a Comment