By Robert Farago The Truth About Cars Blog
July 10th, 2006 3,630 Views
I’m
not a big fan of segregation. Obviously, US car culture splits into
distinct niches: hot rodders, low-riders, urban gangstas, tuners, etc.
Equally obvious, these niches attract adherents from specific ethnic
groups. But just as communities throughout my home state meet down at
the markets as they root around for fresh ingredients for their ethnic
cuisine, there is an element of respect and inter-mingling between
these petrol-powered fraternities. Anyway, I don’t get the male -
female automotive divide. I seriously doubt that there’s a female
automotive perspective– even when it comes to child safety and
minivanning. So when I saw a press release about a new female-oriented
automotive website, I decided to do what it said on the tin: ask
Patty. Turns out “Patty” is a male invention and the company producing
the website makes its money sensitizing dealers to “women’s needs.” I
quizzed Jody Devere, President of www.askpatty.com, about the statistical justification for the segregation.
