But as we are overjoyed to be through listening to people argue, as we have cast our votes and played our biggest role in deciding the fate of our nation, we cannot allow ourselves to forget about the issues. Politicians promise to prioritize certain ones, but once they become elected, everything is a priority. I cannot imagine how tough it must be to represent so many different types of people--regardless of party, they are supposed to speak for us all. The only way for us to influence their priorities is to keep talking about the issues that matter to us.
Many people have a particular issue they are especially concerned about, myself included. I believe I am knowledgeable about my issue and have been able to distinguish fact and opinion as I have studied it. But even without those facts, I know all I need to know about it because of my own experience.
That's right--I'm a feminist.
I'm not going to touch the women's issues debated in the election; my greatest concerns are nonpartisan anyway. My greatest concerns are the sexual objectification of women by the media. That our default setting is "he." That we are taught to value our appearance above all. Do you doubt me? Take a stroll down the boys' toy aisle, and then the girls'. Note the companies that push their products using scantily clad and/or physically perfect women. Definitely watch the documentary Miss Representation and visit the website.
It has been difficult to let go of my preoccupation with my looks, and I still have a long way to go. Every day, I remind myself: insecurity is not natural, or necessary. The things I have worked to achieve are worth much more than what I was born with. And it seems to me that the best way for young women to really believe those things about themselves is to be involved in sports. There are many other ways to feel empowered, but sports are different. To be an athlete is to love your body for what it can do and not for what it looks like. I love seeing women throughout the sports world. There are many strong, skilled female athletes for girls to look up to. I just wish I saw more women in racing.
The number of women in our sport is significantly greater than it was only a few years ago, and it will only continue to grow. But I still want more. I want to hear "Ladies and gentleman," at every start, at every track, in every country. I know there are millions of female spectators, and I want the number of female drivers to reflect that. I want young girls to stop dreaming about making history as a woman, and instead dream about making history as a driver.
We've come a long way, and although women are still greatly outnumbered, we're used to seeing female drivers. But racing continues to be a man's world. The rule is still that men are drivers, crew chiefs, or engineers, and women are wives or grid girls. I know there are women who do important work. I don't know how numerous they are, but from my perspective, they seem like the exceptions that prove the rule. Sometimes, the grid girls are all I see. There are the female spectators, like me, and almost anyone associated with the event is either a man or paid to look pretty for the men. I feel like I'm being ignored.
That's not what I want any young driver to see, female or male. I want them to see Sarah Fisher, the first female team owner to win an IndyCar race. I want them to see Liz Halliday, a successful driver, commentator, and equestrian. I myself have received driving instruction from several intelligent, talented women. Girls need to see these incredible women accomplishing these things, and for many, that's the only way they would think they could do it themselves.
A few years ago, I read a letter in Racer Magazine that claimed that beautiful women were part of racing. These women are beautiful, but I doubt I'm using that word in the same way that fellow was. Now, things have changed. We let women drive at night, and we let them drive race cars, too, no matter what they look like. Racing is for everyone. If there are men driving, there better be women. If there are grid girls, then there ought to be grid boys. This is the 21st century, and a girl who loves racing should never feel like she has to break down barriers to get there.
It's time to crush sexism! All you amazing female drivers, hurry up and make it to the top! We've shown the world what we can do, but we need you to make sure they cold know it.
