In the September/October issues of Puget Sound Journey, the AAA mazagine for our region, I found a list of 20 Reasons Why Women Should Motor Reprinted from Western Washington Motorist (Vol. !, No. 7), May 1920 by Douglas A. Shelor, Auto Club manager.
There are many reasons why most city and country women should motor.
Following are 10 reasons applicable to each of the two classes.
My favorites on the list:
The Countryside Wife
1. As a means of education through contact with people.
8. Driving an automobile gives a woman self-reliance.
9. Women are enabled to obtain higher prices for the farm products they market.
10. Permits more attention to religious training for children and church attendance by family.
Women of the Metropolis
3. Poise and self-reliance gained by a woman who drives a car.
8. Because an automobile tends to keep the family together.
9. For mental inspiration in closer contact with nature.
10. Use of an automobile increases efficiency of a woman, whatever her calling.
Ted pointed out to me that #8 conflicts with Jane Jacobs’ perspective in her book Dark Age Ahead. What is poignant and significant, perhaps even ironic, about my beloved’s observation is that he is the one who taught me how to drive, the summer we got engaged. However, whatever the effect of automobiles on society, family and women may be, I would prefer to live in a time and place where women can drive than one where women are not allowed to drive. And I do think it can help keep the family together, when used appropriately.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Kris Hasson-Jones // Aug 30, 2004 at 11:41 am
What I find most disturbing about prohibiting women from driving is the limitation of choice.
2 Kris Hasson-Jones // Aug 30, 2004 at 11:43 am
Along with the preservation of dependency, that is. It limits the choices of women to dependent ones, and limits men to being the one depended on for driving.
And of course there’s no allowance for women who have no relative on which to depend. So women without a male relative in charge of them are not valuable members of society.