Once again, National Geographic has brought us a great book to share with you. It’s called
Motor girls: How Women Took the Wheel and Drove Boldly into the Twentieth Century.
Come along for a joy ride in this enthralling tribute to the daring women – Motor Girls, as they were called at the turn of the century – who got behind the wheel of the first cars and paved the way for change. The automobile has always symbolized freedom, and in this book we meet the first generation of female motorists who drove cars for fun, profit, and to make a statement about the evolving role of women. From the advent of the auto in the 1890s to the 1920s when the breaking down of barriers for women was in full swing, readers will be delighted to see historical photos, art, and artifacts and to discover the many ways these progressive females influenced fashion, the economy, politics, and the world around them.
It’s hard to imagine a time when women didn’t drive cars, isn’t it? Well believe it or not, just one hundred years ago, women were mostly passengers in these new automobile things. Naturally, once women saw how great the motorcar was, they took ownership of it. Not only does Motor Girls discuss the beginning of the car, it provides little known information about the first motoring laws, an all female car sales team, and even participated in car races.
Motor Girls is a must add book to your library, especially if you want to inspire girls to live their dreams. Everyone will get a chuckle at the ridiculous riding clothes early motorists wore and will be amazed at the significant impact women of color made in the history of the automobile.