I'm shocked. I was coming home from San Diego yesterday with my 4 y.o. daughter in the car (we were in the Alfa). Spotted a beautiful yellow 360 (plate read Funarri) and pointed it out to my daughter. As we pulled up to the car, we both noticed it was a woman driving the car. I said to my daughter: see, it's a girl driving. And she replied "but girls can't drive ferrari's". I'm shocked. As most of you are aware, I've always included my daughter in my car activities, have joked about how she will be a future F1 driver, am trying to get her into karting when she turns 5, etc.,etc. I've even talked to her about teaching her how to drive the GT4 when she gets older. I don't know how she could have said this. She is definately a tomboy, and on more than one occasion, she has told my wife that she wishes she were a boy instead of a girl. Sometimes I wonder if other kids or adults say things about girls not being able to do some things that boys can do. We have both tried to tell her that girls can do anything that boys can do. Lately, she has really been into Star wars (the original movie) and the fact that Princess Leia can handle a laser gun just like the boys can. I wonder if part of what she said stems from the fact that my wife does not know how to drive a stick shift. Since my wife can't drive the ferrari, maybe she assumes that other women can't either? I'm not sure what else to do. She is definately into cars, so I just don't know how she could have made such a statement. Should get my wife to learn stick. Does anyone know of a good driving school that could possibly teach her (I tried to teach her out to drive stick and long time ago, and wasn't too successful)? What else can I do? Any women ferrari owners on this site (in Socal) willing to take my daugher out for a spin? Anything else I can do? Dom P.S.- I put this in off-topic, but am not sure if it would be better in general discussion, since it is somewhat ferrari related.
This is probably the case Dom. Might be a great opportunity to get your wife some seat time. I have a 5 year old boy that knows no limitations for success. He was extremely hurt that he didn't catch a fish during a fishing tourney last weekend. There was a fish on my brother's pole and he let my boy bring the fish in, he smiled and said "It's the fish of my dreams!" and we put it in plastic and he held it all the way home from the lake while he slept. Do anything you can to make them believe that they are the best at anything they want to try. Sit her in your lap the next time you drive the GT4 and let her cruise around the block and wave to the neighbors. She will be so darn proud as she announces that she "drives a Ferrari". Problem solved. Nick
thats pretty funny. ive seen that particular 360 a few times (funarri) but have seen the woman driving it only once or twice. you said that you include her in many of your events. of all the events i go to (which are also in so cal), anywhere from 95-100% of the drivers/owners are male. maybe thats it. another thing, my dad has a stick Gallardo. my mom definitely knows how to drive a stick, neither one of them drove an automatic until their mid-late twenties. howvere, shes only backed the Gallardo out of garage once, and even still she didnt want to. maybe more women are like my mom in that they just dont feel safe driving one of those. it scares my mom to death, just being inside it while its moving
Get your girl over to Dallas....I'd be happy to take her for a girls only day! She can pick whichever car in the garage she wants to drive in!
Dom, can your wife fight...? You know, like, physically kick someone's ass...? Have your wife take your daughter around to ALL the people you think might've said something that would discourage your daughter from thinking that women can't drive Ferraris and have her kick their asses... Teachers, parents of school friends, clergy - everyone... And at the end of each ass-kicking, have your wife turn to your daughter and say, "See...? Girls can do ANYthing..."
YA THINK?! It always amazes me how sexist our society is and how it just goes unnoticed. Just take a look in the racing section here on the board regarding Danica Patrick. Plenty of sexist girls "don't have the physical capacity" to compete in such an arena statements. If you take a look at women's sports you'll see that they're progressing at a much greater rate than men in terms of increase in performance. Womens sprinters times over the past 10-20 years have been tumbling at a much faster rate than mens as has their gains in other sports. Why? Well, for one thing women haven't been competing in sports with the same access to training as men have until the last 20-30 years. So, they have more gains to make. Eventually I predict women will catch up to men in many areas and actually surpass them in some. One would be sprinting. Womens lower bodies (legs) are naturally much more stronger than mens. If you take performance drugs out of the equation they have much more muscle in that area of the body to develop and use. But, most people don't see the gains being made. They just see that the male sprinter was faster in the 100 than the female. Not the % of decrease in time from 15 years ago. I also predict within 15 years a woman will be competing for the #1 position on the PGA. Trust me. I've had my ass handed to me many of times in discussions by my girl friend who graduated Magna Cum Laude from USC with a major in Gender Studies (shes now in a masters program for Library Studies and teaching). Women's sports programs work. Not only for the sake of sports but most girls who compete in them have higher self esteems and grades on average than those who don't. Unfortunately it's usually the first thing cut when funding is reduced to schools. Boy's sports on the other hand are very rarely ever touched. FWIW there were a few girls who race KARTS when I was racing. They were as fast as any of the guys. When you put on the helmet, gloves, suit, and shoes no one can tell who's a guy or a girl. The stop watch certainly can't.
That's @#$%ed up dude, and you know it... Know anyone that's ever killed themselves over a gas bill...?
Gee, I'm glad we all feel all warm and fuzzy inside harping about how women can do anything and everything they want to in this world. But....I feel that we've lost an appreciation for the inherent gender differences that make men and women unique and valued in their own right. Seems people never successfully navigate these types of conversations without trampling on the other gender's accomplishments......ever wonder why today's men feel somewhat besieged in today's society, where their accomplishments/achievements/role models/heros/successes are grist for the wood chipper of history so long as today's women fail to appreciate that men are just 'better' at some things than women are? And vice versa?
I don't think anyone is saying that women can do anything and everything they want to in this world on the threads of this discussion - that is a very broad sweeping generalization. A few specific examples have been cited around the evolution of women performing in sports but for the most part, the responses are addressing the poster's concern that his daughter voiced that driving a Ferrari is for men. Obviously not true. The only thing I'm "harping" on is that I am a woman, I own a Ferrari and I would love to take Dom's little girl out for a spin to show her that girls can drive any car they damn well want to. Where's the trampling? As far as appreciation for the men, there are definite unique differences that are appreciated by many women. And vice versa (cue Bikini thread)
Like what? I'm not trying to pick a fight, but really. Some men are better at some things than other men. I am 5ft, 5in tall and weigh 170lbs. I obviously would not make a good firefighter. Or lumberjack. Or F1 racer, for that matter. And, I am a man last time I checked. To say that men are better at somethings is quite a generalization. The same goes for academics. I know some very smart women. My wife is smarter than I am (after all, she married me ). Plenty of other smart women, men don't have the monopoly on brains. There is no reason why a woman can't do anything that a man can do, given equal size, strength, etc. But anyway, I don't want to argue that point. I guess the point of this thread is what can I do to make my daughter understand that being a girl is not worse than being a boy. That she can drive her ferrari when she's old enough. That she can do anything she wants to do, given reasonable limits. Dom
Well I don't own a Ferrari... yet ! But I grew up with the passion for cars. My father had a MG TA from 1938... and I loved it and spent a lot of hours together with my father during restore and on a LOT of trips in it. ANd later I drove it too!! But I also grew up listening to adults and other kids who laughed at my passion and who told me that it wasn't for "girlies"!!! I Still hear that sometimes. I don't know if this happens to everybody.... but I sure grew up with a little thought saying: " I wonder if they are right about that" Today I sure know better.... and noone is going to tell me that car's (all cars... not only Ferrari's) are not for women/girls THen i'll show them otherwise!!!
What a great thread! Senna21: Very heartening to see someone else agree that the attitudes displayed in the Danica thread (save for one extremely strong retort) were sexist and WAY out of line. Dom: You sound like a FANTASTIC father. If more girls had a father like you, I think the world would be a very different place...for the better. Once you have either completed gender studies at uni, or know someone who has and have discussed what's involved, you quickly realise the extent of social conditioning (i.e 'nurture' or 'environment') which explains the traditional roles played by men and women, which the overwhelming majority confuse with 'nature', i.e. women are nothing more than a kitchen appliance. One can see clearly that conditioning has started to affect your daughter; and it's sad. I wish you every success in trying to make sure your daughter pursues her real goals and dreams.
That's a classic example of social conditioning. Lucky for you, you were abale to resist it. The last point I want to make is that I do not advocate man-hating. For that matter, I do not advocate women-hating either. There are nice men and there are bad men. There are nice women and there are bad women. The point is I just wish people were treated on merit, not on stereotypes or preconceived notions of 'roles'. These arguments are as applicable to sexism as much as racism.
Dom, great to see you react like this - log her on to racerchicks.com, they even have a great colouring in page for little racerchicks! Surely there must be some girls driving Fcars in your local club? If you'd like to take a vacation in Australia, I'd be glad to show her even little girls (I'm only 5'2") can easily drive a Ferrari! Interestingly, I'm often asked by guys in carclubs can I talk to their wives/girlfriends etc and try and explain in 'woman speak' what's so great about these cars - but it's really hard to put into words. For me the love of machinery started very early (my dad's hobby was speedway mechanic and I still love the smell of methyl) and I think that's the key, so you're going the right direction. Good luck!
Probally some of the smartest words ever said in f-chat. Also, get your wife to drive it. Your daughter will look to mom as a definition of what a woman/girl SHOULD BE! Physical differences (and at that, only a trend with plenty of exceptions.) aside, men and women really are equally capable, and thankfully we live in a country where they can be capable of nearly anything. Though sometimes I do think Jack Nichelson was spot on when he wrote of women: "I think of a man, then take away reason, and accountability!"
Many times adults interpret things kids say one way when they mean something else. Did you ask her why she thought that? That would probably explain why she said what she did.
I like her already. May she grow up to be a trauma surgeon, executive top gun, captain of the ship on a research vessel. I give a good run in most any SCCA stick race car in autox or road course. But then, my dad was a B-17 pilot. Gees, give her some rope. She might just blow your mind.
