From Hot Wheels toys to Lightning McQueen bedsheets, the idea that cars are made for boys has been imprinted into young minds for decades. Meanwhile, young girls are expected to gravitate towards Barbies or pretend-play kitchens, interests which are labelled as feminine. For sophomore Natalie Noh, these examples of early gender-specific marketing can influence how girls view themselves and limit future opportunities.
“Cars being primarily targeted towards boys can definitely delay interest for a lot of girls from a young age,” she said. “Guys are exposed to (things from) toy cars and trucks to video games or other media, while girls might not be as exposed to the same things.”
This marketing framework is reflected in research from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The study found that in advertisements distributed during 2022 for best-selling toys, boys were three to four times more likely to be shown playing with cars, weapons and sports toys than their female counterparts. These patterns in representation do not end in childhood: They become prevalent in the workforce too. While women in the automotive industry have grown in numbers recently, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women only held 23.9% of manufacturing jobs, which includes food and transportation manufacturing, and 12.1% of automotive repair and maintenance roles in 2022.
As the only girl in her auto class, junior Vanessa Dahl pushes past assigned gender roles by leading projects amongst her male peers. Her interest in cars began in Fletcher Middle School, where she took Industrial Tech, and has remained a defining part of her life. Responsibilities like changing engine oil, working on her own car outside of school or completing projects in Gunn’s auto class have inspired Dahl to pursue a career in automotive engineering.
“I feel like (the automotive industry would) be more inclined to have men just because it (may) seem like they know more about the cars, just because it’s considered a manly kind of thing,” she said. “But I feel like it could also be good to have women coming into the automotive industry and representing that diversity among genders. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Dahl not only enjoys working on cars, but also spends some of her leisure time watching motorsports and researching car parts. Completing projects like fixing car engines and working on the transmissions while pushing against gender expectations has also struck a chord.
“I find it really interesting just to know the little nitty gritty stuff (about cars),” she said. “So if I have an issue with my car, I kind of just take the time to research it a little bit and see what I can do to fix it.”
Noh is also familiar with the world of engines and wheels. Having grown up watching her dad work on his own car, she started her sports photography career two years ago and enjoys taking photos of motor sports while also watching Formula One racing. Throughout her journey, Noh mentions that the bias she has felt in the motor field has only grown stronger. She has noticed that there are differences in people’s behavior when she is alone in contrast to when she is with her male counterparts.
“At car meets and events, I’ve definitely noticed that the owners (of cars) are more likely to explain the specifications and the details of the cars when I’m with guys, whereas when I’m only with other girls, that doesn’t always happen,” she said.
Even in sports entertainment, women often must fight for their place as fans. Sophomore Gaia Kimhi considers herself a F1 superfan, from waking up at dawn to watch races and traveling across the world to attend the F1 Grand Prix. Her love for motorsports stemmed from the influence of her dad and older brother, as she often attended car races with them starting from the age of six. Throughout the countless events she has attended, Kimhi has noticed the large gap in attendance between the two genders. Similar to Dahl and Noh, she believes this disparity stems from societal beliefs that women are not interested, or cannot handle the technical side of auto.
“I think one of the biggest (stereotypes) is that women only like the sport because they’re attracted to the driver and that’s the only reason they would keep up with the sport,” she said. “So it’s almost like having to explain why you’re a fan of something that other people may be too, but because you’re a woman, you have to answer to that stereotype of only supporting the sport for the drivers.”
Kimhi also thinks that the stereotypes to always maintain traditionally ‘woman-like’ characteristics — imposed on young girls — prevent them from pursuing more male-dominated hobbies.
“I definitely think that the way that cars are spoken about from a young age impacts a lot of women’s outlook on cars, and especially in F1 because it almost discourages women from wanting to look into it further, out of the fear that they’ll fall out of being womanly or elegant,” Kimhi said.
Nevertheless, Noh has been able to overcome barriers by finding a supportive community and leaning into her passion. Photography helps create bonds between people in the same hobby. Shooting different car shows with her friends keeps her motivated to keep going.
“I think through car photography, I made a bunch of friends with other photographers, some of whom also shoot motor sports, which eventually got me to bring my camera to different car shows and events,” she said. “I think what keeps me interested is getting to see different cars for the first time. It is always such a surreal experience.”
Carrying her love of sports photography and a sense of self-confidence, Noh pushes past gender norms and plans on continuing on the motorsports photography path in college.
“I think that if you know your stuff and are just confident and passionate about it, people respect that no matter what your gender is,” she said. Although the stereotypes put onto girls in the field are not easy to deal with, Kimhi prefers to think of it as motivating rather than discouraging.
Although the stereotypes put onto girls in the field are not easy to deal with, Kimhi prefers to think of it as motivating rather than discouraging.
“It’s easy to be thrown off by subtle observations such as the smaller attendance of girls like me or stereotypes that I feel like are constantly being placed on women,” she said. “The truth is, I feel even more passionate to prove my gender right in a hobby full of men, which is why I keep showing up and doing what I love.”
