Not that long ago, feminists campaigned for women’s rights.

They wanted women to be free to work, earn money and enjoy themselves - just like men.

8 Walk-on girls like Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood face losing their jobs thanks to a feminist backlash Credit: Getty - Contributor

Today we have a new type of feminism that doesn’t fight for sexual liberation but instead calls for women to lose their jobs.

This is exactly what has happened to the walk-on girls at darts tournaments.

Thanks to easily-outraged feminists, walk-on girls will be dropped from this weekend’s Masters in Milton Keynes.

Women like Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood now face an uncertain future. Their jobs are under threat and their rights are being taken away.

8 Joanna Williams argues that the walk-on girls have a right to do whatever jobs they please Credit: Rex Features

Feminists vs women

Feminists argue that darts girls are sexist. The writer Sally Howard said what they do is “demeaning”.

But what’s really insulting to women is the patronising assumption that, like children, they need to be told what jobs are unsuitable.

Women who work at darts tournaments are adults: they can decide for themselves if a job is demeaning.

It’s a strange feminism that celebrates getting women sacked.

8 A petition is currently circulating with over 30,000 signatures calling for the girls to be reinstated Credit: Instagram

Sally Howard said walk-on girls need to go because: “It’s a decorative role that’s making money for men.”

But it’s not just men who are making money.

Darts accounts for 60% of Charlotte Wood’s income.

Unfortunately for the feminists there simply aren’t that many employment opportunities serving in vegan-cafes, running consciousness-raising workshops or leading yoga retreats.

8 Why are snobby feminists okay with bare flesh in glossy magazines but not with darts girls? Credit: Vogue

In the real world, women do all kinds of jobs.

Some clever and beautiful women calculate they can earn more in one evening as a darts-girl than they could working for a week in a supermarket or call centre.

Yet, in the eyes of privileged feminists, only one of these jobs is demeaning.

They would rather see women cleaning toilets than being paid for looking fabulous.

8 Daniella and Charlotte have spoken out to defend their jobs and say they love what they do Credit: Instagram

Pay to display

It’s not that today’s feminists have a problem with scantily-clad women.

Flick through the pages of elite fashion magazine Vogue and you’ll see far more female flesh on display than at any darts match.

At the Golden Globes earlier this month, actresses donned black dresses to protest against sexual harassment in the film industry.

Luckily for actresses wanting to make a splash, designers came up with cleavage-enhancing, thigh-revealing posh frocks.

8 Many of the same people outraged about what walk-on girls do will be fine when celebs strip off for glossy mags Credit: Vogue

Being photographed half-naked for the pages of Vogue or wearing tiny black dresses in Hollywood gets the feminist seal of approval but glamorous women at darts matches do not.

Feminists need to be more honest. It’s not the skin exposed or the type of dress that’s the problem: it’s the audience.

It’s fine to pose for wealthy Vogue readers but not for darts fans. A woman in a revealing black frock at an awards ceremony is cool, an evening gown at a darts match is not.

Feminism today is not just hypocritical. Worse, it is thoroughly snobby.

8 There have been no complaints about how walk-on girls are treated from within the darts community Credit: Instagram

Snobs on jobs

It can be hard for women to know which jobs are now considered acceptable. One solution might be to set up a panel of feminists for women to consult before they apply for a job.

Of course, men don’t need to look for such approval. They are free to take whatever jobs they can get.

It’s only women who have to put up with feminists telling them what jobs are not acceptable.

It might bring some feminists out in a rash to hear it, but many women who work as models at sporting events enjoy themselves.

Model Kelly Brook said of her time as a Formula 1 flag girl: “It’s one of the best jobs I ever had.”

Daniella Allfree, who walked on with Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor at Alexander Palace on New Year’s Day, tweeted that she has “Loved every minute of being a walk on girl and will miss the darts family so much.”

These women are rightly proud of how they look and the work they do.

Unlike some of the women who starve themselves for cat-walks and fashion magazines, the women who work at darts tournaments are well treated.

8 Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood have even appeared on This Morning to defend their jobs Credit: Rex Features

Complaints about their role have not come from them. Neither have they come from members of the audience or from viewers at home.

Instead, the same feminist lobby groups who spent decades being outraged by The Sun’s Page Three girls have shifted their attention to other jobs women do.

Unsurprisingly, the Professional Darts Corporation has now caved to pressure from broadcasters.

In all the outrage it’s forgotten that no woman has ever been forced to work as darts girl.

Darts girls hit back after bosses decide to ditch walk-on-girls from sport

This is something that women - as adults - choose to do.

By the same token, no one is forced to watch darts.

most read in news CORONA CURBS Brits 'face 6 MONTHS of restrictions' as Boris says second wave ‘inevitable’ Latest ON THE BRINK England faces lockdown in days as cases double and Nightingale ward on standby 'WORST NIGHTMARE' Newborn mauled to death by 'jealous' dog who escaped from pen, says uncle HOLIDAY TRAGEDY Mum, 33, found dead on holiday from alcohol poisoning after 'drink session' LONDON LOCKDOWN Sadiq Khan warns it's ‘increasingly likely’ London will see covid lockdown NAZI PIECE OF WORK Midlands man sparks fury by proudly flying swastika flag outside home

My advice to people offended by the darts girls is simple: turn your television off.

But I suspect the people most outraged have never once watched a darts tournament.

Joanna Williams is the author of Women Vs Feminism: Why We All Need Liberating From The Gender Wars.