Virginia Scharffs Femininity and the Electric Car :: Technology Automobiles Essays

Virginia Scharffs femininity and the galvanic Car In Femininity and the Electric Car, Virginia Scharff examines the electric car, its history, and the targeted customers at which it was aimed.Five hundred electric cars were produced by the Pope Manufacturing Company in 1897. According to Scharff, this was after Colonel Albert A. Pope, the president of that company, decided not to sign on noisy or smelly gasoline-powered cars, but instead, on clean, quiet electric vehicles. (Femininity and the Electric Car p.75) The Pope Manufacturing Company all the way targeted women as customers. This is evident in their advertising strategy. For example, Scharff says, As Pope suggested in a 1903 advertisement for the Pope-Waverly electric model electricswill appeal to anyone interested in an abruptly noiseless, odorless, clean and stylish rig that is always ready and that, mile for mile, can be operated at less cost than any another(prenominal) caseful of beat back car. Lest this message e scape those it was intended to attract, the text accompanied a picture of a delighted woman twitr piloting a a correspondent female passenger. (p.75) With such blatant advertising can be clearly seen that the electric car was targeted at women. Later advertisements which were also directed at women contained nice language. According to Scharff, this separate spheres ideology vastly oversimplified both human relations and social forces. Scharff then gave an example of a man who is stereotypically rugged seek cling to from the rain and of women who are stereotypically soft-spoken yelling at their children to illustrate this oversimplification.The main reasons why electric cars were targeted at women was basically because of the misconception that women lacked the ability to crusade well and should drive slower, safer cars rather than faster, to a greater extent powerful gasoline-powered cars. It was also assumed that women should just use a car as a means of transportation for chores and other errands that were associated with scant(p) distances, so that the electric cars lack of range wouldnt bother women. Perhaps husbands liked the restricted range that their wives would have because perchance they didnt trust them enough to go on longer trips. In this manner of using the electric car nearly exclusively for chores, the technology seemed more tyrannic to women rather than liberating.In addition to a limited range, Scharff mentions a number of other disadvantages that the electric car had. It was more expensive than a gasoline-powered car. It was grueling to drive on bumpy roads and was unable to climb steep hills.Virginia Scharffs Femininity and the Electric Car Technology Automobiles EssaysVirginia Scharffs Femininity and the Electric Car In Femininity and the Electric Car, Virginia Scharff examines the electric car, its history, and the targeted customers at which it was aimed.Five hundred electric cars were produced by the Pope Manufacturing Co mpany in 1897. According to Scharff, this was after Colonel Albert A. Pope, the president of that company, decided not to concentrate on noisy or smelly gasoline-powered cars, but instead, on clean, quiet electric vehicles. (Femininity and the Electric Car p.75) The Pope Manufacturing Company clearly targeted women as customers. This is evident in their advertising strategy. For example, Scharff says, As Pope suggested in a 1903 advertisement for the Pope-Waverly electric model electricswill appeal to anyone interested in an absolutely noiseless, odorless, clean and stylish rig that is always ready and that, mile for mile, can be operated at less cost than any other type of motor car. Lest this message escape those it was intended to attract, the text accompanied a picture of a delighted woman driver piloting a a similar female passenger. (p.75) With such blatant advertising can be clearly seen that the electric car was targeted at women. Later advertisements which were also directe d at women contained Victorian language. According to Scharff, this separate spheres ideology vastly oversimplified both human relations and social forces. Scharff then gave an example of a man who is stereotypically rugged seeking shelter from the rain and of women who are stereotypically soft-spoken yelling at their children to illustrate this oversimplification.The main reasons why electric cars were targeted at women was basically because of the misconception that women lacked the ability to drive well and should drive slower, safer cars rather than faster, more powerful gasoline-powered cars. It was also assumed that women should just use a car as a means of transportation for chores and other errands that were associated with short distances, so that the electric cars lack of range wouldnt bother women. Perhaps husbands liked the restricted range that their wives would have because maybe they didnt trust them enough to go on longer trips. In this manner of using the electric c ar nearly exclusively for chores, the technology seemed more oppressive to women rather than liberating.In addition to a limited range, Scharff mentions a number of other disadvantages that the electric car had. It was more expensive than a gasoline-powered car. It was difficult to drive on bumpy roads and was unable to climb steep hills.