Girl car
A girl car, girl's car or chick car refers to an automobile model that is perceived to be preferred by women drivers.[1][2] The girl car is diverged from the concept of the "woman's car", which was rooted in the traditional role of women as wives and mothers.[1] The car that women drove was a family vehicle, a utilitarian second vehicle built for children and cargo. These were the station wagons of the 1950s and 60s, that evolved into minivans and hatchbacks of the 80s, and then into the modern SUVs.[1] According to historian Virginia Scharff, this traditional categorization of cars into masculine and female roles trivialized women drivers.[3]
Few cars have been specifically designed for and marketed to women exclusively.[4][5] The first automobile designed specifically for the women's market was the Dodge La Femme,[6] a customized version of the 1955 and 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer models.[7][8]
Examples of cars that have features that appeal to women and are associated with that gender include the Peugeot 206 cc, of which 88% of buyers were female.[9]
In 2004, a female team of designers unveiled a Volvo S60-based concept car that was designed to appeal to female drivers.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Lezotte, Chris (2012). "The Evolution of the "Chick Car" Or: What Came First, the Chick or the Car?" (PDF). Journal of Popular Culture. 45 (3). John Wiley & Sons: 516–531. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2012.00942.x. PMID 22737757. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Parker, Joe (March 28, 2017). "Is there such thing as a girl's car?". Appen Media. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Scharf, Virginia (1991). Taking the Wheel: Women and the Coming of the Motor Age. Albuquerque: U of New Mexico P.
- ^ Barrientos, Tanya (November 19, 2004). "What Women Want: 'chick cars' possess feminine quality that draws female buyers". The Atlanta Constitution. p. S1. Retrieved May 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Magliozzi, Tom and Ray (December 30, 2000). "Guys, do you drive a 'Girl Car'?". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 6G. Retrieved May 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dodge's LaFemme Is First Automobile With A Gender—It's Female". Popular Mechanics. 104 (1): 133. July 1955. Retrieved 28 February 2012 – via Google Books.
- ^ Gunnell, John. Standard catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 (Revised 4th ed.). pp. 334–336.
- ^ "Dodge 'La Femme' Made Especially for Women". Los Angeles Mirror. January 21, 1955. p. III-1. Retrieved May 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Verdict Peugeot 207cc". 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Madslien, Jorn (3 March 2004). "Girl Power softens Volvo's edges". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
Further reading
[edit]- Duggan, Denis (November 6, 1977). "Detroit not ready to design car just for women". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 1E. Retrieved May 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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