Women Drivers

You can thank my wife for today’s posting - she suggested this was worthy of inclusion.

Today the BBC have reported that the RAF Red Arrows have appointed their first female pilot. The film clip by the way, made me feel sick.

So, no cracks from the guys about women drivers. One sociological question about this however, might be why it has taken so long for us to reach this landmark appointment. Clue - check out the Equal Opportunities Act and the Sex Discrimination Act in the 1970s. Also note changes in the education system which may have helped.

Prof. David Held of the LSE, would I’m sure - because he’s pointed to things like this before - say that this shows what a success sociology has been. Yes folks, Flt Lt. Moore can partly thank Sociology for her success! Why? Because, according to Prof Held, its the work done by Sociologists which has, over a long period of time, helped to change social attitudes.

But another question; does this mean that men and women are now equal? Have all the old attitudes gone forever? I’ll leave you to find evidence for or against that.

Finally - that thing about women drivers. Ever heard of ‘essentialism’? It’s the concept that each sex has ‘essential’ or fixed characteristics which are natural and cannot be changed. Part of their essential nature. Flt Lt Moore shows that essentialism must be wrong: if one women can do it, so can others. So, it can’t be down to sex.