Abstract
In this paper I argue that that the major automotive racing league, Formula 1, is substandard it its efforts to be a truly unisex sport. Though women have never been officially prohibited from competing in Formula 1, there have been fewer than 10 female drivers since its inception, and in the current series there are none. This study focuses on factors preventing women drivers from securing professional driving positions in Formula 1 and from racing on equal terms with men. I argue that there are six major barriers perpetuating women’s exclusion from this league: historical attitudes, current attitudes, assumed physical and mental inferiority, sexualisation, money, and representation and (in)visibility. In this cultural examination, I show that the situation for women in Formula 1 appears to be bleaker than in many other sports that are making progress in their quest for gender equality. However, it will also be suggested that, despite ethical issues, W Series - a new, women’s only, single-seater car racing championship – could potentially cause positive change for women’s car racing. This study employs the theories of philosopher Simone de Beauvoir on the concept of ‘Otherness’ (2011), and Helmut Pflugfelder’s account of female embodiment in motorsport (2009). The conclusion will be that, although W Series provides a promising pathway for aspiring women drivers, more focused research and action is required around gender issues in Formula 1.
Presenters
Olivia R. HowePhD Student, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Praha, Hlavní mesto, Czech Republic
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Sporting Cultures and Identities
KEYWORDS
Feminism, Formula 1, Gender, Equity, Motorsport, Representation, Exclusion
