Motor Girls: How Women Took the Wheel and Drove Boldly Into the Twentieth Century

As advertised, prompt delivery.

Nice book.

Ford rolled the last Model T off the assembly line in 1927 after having sold over 15 million of them. Part of his success was that he marketed cars to women as well as men. Although articles had been written that women weren’t fit to drive, and women themselves stated driving made them nervous while others feared it would take away their femininity, that didn’t stop the social set of Washington including Miss Alice Roosevelt from driving. Mary Anderson patented a window cleaning device, an early windshield wiper, that never went into production. Mrs. Olive Schultz was a licensed chauffeuse and rented her car out as a public taxicab. Women were dressing appropriately to drive motor cars. Women were writing books for women teaching them all about motor cars. Women were racing, driving during the war and so much more in the early 1900s.Author Sue Macy has put together an amazing fact filled adventure featuring women and the motor car. Stunning photos show off women and their cars, uniforms, goggles and transatlantic adventures and more. This guide to a history of women drivers is for anyone and everyone to enjoy and learn about the motor car and the women who sat behind the wheel. This guide comes full circle representing women race car drivers of the 21st century. The Appendix in the back offers more dates and figures for cars sold and the companies that produced them. There are also books and website resources for readers to learn even more.

Beyond the occasional “Hey look at that cool old car!” I never thought much about the history of cars—that is until I received a review copy of Motor Girls. This gorgeous book about the rise of the automobile industry and its relation to women and women’s rights is filled with primary source material, fabulous period photographs and advertisements, and information that makes a long ago blossoming of technology relevant to today.Motor Girls relates the way women took to driving from the very first, starting with socialites and actresses and moving on into the middle class. Cars allowed women to get out of the home more and so women’s driving was controversial In addition, roads were rough and trips of any great length required skills at tire changing and repairs—skills many women proved themselves amply capable of. World War I allowed even more women to learn to drive as they supported the war effort, sometimes under dangerous conditions. In addition, public cross country drives became an important part of the women’s suffrage movement.Interesting facts, anecdotes, and historical figures abound in this book. Sidebars include manners for motorists, fashion tips, race accounts, and many mini biographies.An utterly delightful read, Motor Girls not only contains interesting historical content, but a message of women’s resistance that is very relevant today. Young readers may easily dip into sections or sidebars or read cover to cover. I’d recommend this for classroom, school, and home libraries, and for anyone who needs a feminist boost.

I have to say that I was surprised at the quality of this book. Not that NatGeo isn't good, but the subject matter didn't seem to be that interesting. Boy was I wrong. Nearly every page has something of worth that gives insight into the way women moved forward with the introduction of automobiles. For instance, there is a short spot about Lillian Sheridan -- a devotee to the Ford brand-- who became so enamored that she started selling tires for autos but eventually rose to Sales Manager for a Ford Dealer in Seattle, Washington.Another delightful part of this book is the little tidbits of knowledge you learn about how motor vehicle laws progressed through the years. Here's an example: In Vermont, a law was passed that required a "person of mature age" to run at least one-eighth of a mile ahead of any steam powered vehicle in order to warn those who may be on the road. It sounds a little silly today but with a multitude of horses on the road, it was probably a necessary precaution.Readers will be entertained and enlightened by the things Sue Macy has amassed in her wonderful book. Oh, and there is a foreword from Danica Patrick that adds a little more pizzazz to the offerings. All in all, this is a well done and entertaining effort.