Women in the Automotive Industry 2005
Distributed by Her Own Words, PO Box 5264, Madison WI 53705-0264; 608-271-7083
Produced by Jocelyn Riley
Director n/a
DVD, color, 15 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Careers, Women's Studies
Date Entered: 04/04/2007
Reviewed by Gloria Maxwell, Reference Librarian, Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, MOThis DVD highlights nine women working a variety of jobs within the automotive industry—such as an automotive-technology instructor, leasing manager, auto repair shop owner & operator, used car sales manager, automotive tool distributor, and several automotive technicians. As one woman in this field says “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do this.”
What becomes apparent is that this type of work is both varied and interesting. They must make a diagnosis before they initiate a repair. Workers in this field display plenty of independence. They also have to prove themselves to male workers in this field. One advantage women have over men is their smaller fingers, which allows them to access tighter places, but, one disadvantage is that they don’t have as much strength for working with tightly bonded pieces of machinery.
This is a short overview of one nontraditional career that certain young girls and women may be interested in pursuing, given some encouragement by these examples. Some ethnic diversity is evident by the women interviewed, and shows that the automotive industry can appeal across ethnic and racial boundaries.
The resource guide contains viewing notes for the video, introduction to the video, and video discussion questions. Profiles are provided for the nine women featured in this DVD. Overhead transparency masters, discussion starters, discussion questions, and a resources list complete this guide.
This is one title in the sixteen 15-minute programs in the Her Own Words series on Women in Nontraditional Careers. Titles in this series would be suitable for Junior and Senior High Schools, as well as community colleges, especially when career planning is discussed. Young girls who are at all interested in this career field will be intrigued and encouraged by seeing other women succeeding in a traditionally male field.
Video and audio qualities are good and a pleasant soundtrack accompanies the presentation.
Highly recommended.
Her Own Words videos and resource guides have received many national awards, including the
- Write Women Back Into History Award from the National Women’s History Project and the
- Barb Landers Memorial Award from the Association for Gender Equity Leadership in Education.