The sociological research question is the following: What are the challenges of being a female racer in a male-dominated sport?
To answer the sociological research question, an interview with Jane Jones was carried out. Jane is twenty-four years old, and she has dreamed of becoming a NASCAR driver ever since she was a little girl. Her mother, part-Italian, and her father, who has both White and Black American roots, were highly concerned about their daughter’s aspirations because the sport was male-dominated. Jane has gone the way up to become a co-driver of a male racer in her local racing league, and her responsibility is to navigate the driving process by stating the further obstacles, turns, their severity, and so on. Jane is an old acquaintance, and although the communication with her has not been regular, she agreed to an interview.
Abstract
Racing is a male-dominated sport, and it is challenging for young women to pursue their dream careers when they face discrimination or get overlooked despite their visible talent. The main problem is that the levels at which male and female racers begin their careers in professional sports are different, but they are expected to show performance at the same equal level. Therefore, this study aims to explore the challenge that female racers face in a male-dominated industry. The interview was carried out with a female racer who can provide a comprehensive overview of the industry and provide insights into the barriers she has faced so far.
Rationale
Today, sports are becoming more diverse and inclusive, with more opportunities for individuals of different genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds to show their talents and develop from different angles. However, some sports remain male-dominated, and it is challenging for young women to pursue their dream careers when they face discrimination or get overlooked despite their visible talent (Nurmela, 2019). The racing world is one of them – being a multimillion-dollar industry with an undeniable impact on global sports entertainment, it still has few women drivers, even despite the legacy of Danica Patrick (Pulver, 2018). Patrick is a former professional racer with multiple awards and achievements in American Auto racing, such as the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver, IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver 2005–2010, and others. As Patrick ended her career in 2018, a question remained as to why there were not many women drivers in the sports.
Because racing is a sport that needs significant funding, it is harder for young women to build their careers as racers to gain respect and have investors believe in them and help them go up the ranks. It is easier for women to get labeled due to stereotypical perceptions as “aggressive” or “loud,” even though they behave the same way as their male peers (Kozlowski, 2021). Even if they achieve success, such as Danica and others, they tend to be perceived with some skepticism despite their talent and on-track success (Deliso, 2022). Even though NASCAR racing is one of very few sports where men and women compete at the same level, there is not enough attention and respect given to women, especially when they are newcomers. They need to have more opportunities, time, and visibility to get to the same level that some of their male peers may take for granted. Ultimately, it is expected that the interview with Jane will bring more issues to light regarding the barriers that women face in racing as a male-dominated sport.
The study dug deep into the issue of gender inequality in motorsports, with the emphasis placed on motivational factors driving women racers to continue their careers despite the challenges they face. The research also explored the gender equality issues from the standpoint of women in sports, who so far represent the minority in auto racing. Using a qualitative research methodology, the study involved five female racing drivers and co-drivers, each of whom had at least seven years of experience in the field. The highest possible motivator was winning competitions, while autosport was perceived as a forerunner of the equal sports culture. However, there were such barriers as challenges with getting promotions due to the preconceptions about racing, which was still considered masculine activity. The study is relevant to the identified research question because it allows increasing awareness of racing as a gender-equal sport that has the potential to promote equality among racers in the future.
The online ABC News article provides the different perspectives of female NASCAR drivers on the barriers they face when it comes to competing in the male-dominated sport. Despite the attempts of some women racers to diversify the sport, there are presently no female drivers competing at the highest level, NASCAR’s Cup Series, with Danica Patrick being the last woman to drive in the Daytona 500, which was in 2018. The main problem that the majority of women racers mentioned was concerned with the lack of funding because they were rarely taken seriously as good competitors in the male-dominated sport. Newcomers had to learn how to juggle being businesswomen and racers because they had to raise as much money as possible to have at least some chances for them to compete at the same level with male colleagues. Besides, reputational stereotypes also cause some limitations to women’s success. The article is relevant to the current research question because it provides the perspectives of specific women racers who have direct experience in the field, and their opinions are highly valuable.
Informed Consent and Interview
My name is Jane Jones, and I agree to participate in the interview for the study called “The Challenges of Being a Female Racer in a Male-Dominated Sport.” The interview with my answers will be used for the future thematic analysis aimed at answering the critical research question. The interview transcription is allowed to be heard by me, the researcher, and the target audience of the final paper. I agree that the interview will last around half an hour, although it may last longer. I expect no monetary or other compensation for participating in the interview, and I am open to answering any follow-up questions later via e-mail or on the phone. At this point, I have no questions regarding the interview and hope that my participation will bring valuable insight into the research question.
Interview Questions
The questions asked in the interview are the following:
- Why racing? What has pushed you to consider such an exciting career path?
- Have your parents and friends supported your choice? What was their rationale?
- What was the process of getting to the racing league you are currently in? Have the gender-associated barriers been visible from the start?
- What do you consider your motivating factors in racing? Have these factors changed over time?
- What are the most visible barriers that you as a woman have faced in racing? Has the experience of your female peers been the same? If yes, in what way?
- How do you think your male peers’ experiences have been different from that of your female peers? Have male racers advocated for the rights of their female peers? If yes, in what way?
- As a separate person, do you have the capacity to stand against inequality? Have you been successful? Have others supported your efforts?
- Do you think gender inequality in racing has been given enough attention among high-rank workers? Have there been people who disregarded this as a problem?
- What do you think should be done in the future to address the issue of gender inequality in racing? Is this an individual-based problem, or does it affect the industry overall?
- In what direction do you think racing will be heading in terms of gender equality? Is there room for an optimistic prognosis?
Transcription
“I think that my parents have always wished well for me regardless of my dreams. But I remember them being very surprised when I first mentioned my intentions to become a racer. My mom was especially concerned because she considered racing a “men’s sport” and thought that getting into a crash was inevitable. Dad showed much more support because he was a casual viewer of the races and knew a thing or two about it. However, he also approached it with caution, probably because he was worried. Thus, I cannot say that the support was great, but they did not stop me, for which I am thankful.” “I decided to start up from the bottom and initially got into go-karting, which is something that everyone advises to do. I got a lot of strange looks from the workers of a local go-kart center who saw me there almost every day. I also worked part-time after school to save up some money, I could not afford to ask my parents for much money. I got lucky and met my future racing coach there, who agreed to give me racing classes; this was the first person to believe in me and give me hope that racing was possible for a woman. He also helped me get into the Sports Car Club of America, which allowed me to get my current job as the co-driver.”
“Having to work with mainly men, from very early on, I understood that people did not take me seriously as a potential individual racer. I have discussed this with some of my female peers, who said that they knew from the very start that they would be treated differently. I would say that it could be considered a price that we pay to become stronger and more successful in the future. However, our male peers do not have to pay this price, which takes them to a level higher when they first enter the field. Therefore, the levels at which male and female racers begin their careers in professional sports are different, but they are expected to show performance at the same equal level. I think this is a false image of gender diversity in sports. In order for male and female racers to be able to compete at the same level, the barriers that women face should be eliminated so that they have equal opportunities.”
Discussion
6a. The interview with Jane was surprising in the fact that she acknowledged gender inequality in racing and considered it an inevitable part of the industry. She said that the barriers she had faced made her a stronger person and pushed her to do better. However, this does not mean that gender inequality should not get addressed. The interviewee said that it was the responsibility of racers, their managers, investors, advertisers, board members, and the audience to talk about the problem and illuminate the challenges it causes to women racers.
6b. Jane’s case can be used to illuminate the social stratification that exists between male and female individuals who participate in the same sport. Since there is no differentiation between male and female racing, the expectations of performance are the same, while the gender gap in opportunities is persistent.
6c. The greatest strength of the interview pertains to the effectiveness of the questions at covering the main topics that are directly associated with the research question. The interviewee had an excellent opportunity to reveal her thoughts and ideas on gender inequality in racing as a sport. She made persuasive arguments about the future of the industry and the steps it should take to get inclusive for women.
References
Deliso, M. (2022). Female NASCAR drivers on the challenges in competing in the male-dominated sport. ABC News.
Kozlowski, J. (2021). Toni Breidinger gets real about the challenges of being NASCAR’s first Arab-American female driver: ‘I know I’m a driver just like anybody else.’
Nurmela, S. (2019). Women in motorsports: “I set out to win every race that I’m in.”JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
Pulver, D. V. (2018). Despite Danica’s legacy, female racers still face tough challenges.The Daytona Beach News-Journal.