3 ms·

> Don't forget letting the female half of the population drive in the US is a relatively new development as well... This is completely false, my understanding

> Don't forget letting the female half of the population drive in the US is a relatively new development as well... This is completely false, my understanding is there was never a prohibition against women driving in the USA, although maybe at one point in the past it was less common. Also I don't see what this has to do with your earlier point about drunk driving.

newnewpdro 8y ago
I'm not saying it was illegal. It was largely disallowed. Men made all the money, automobiles were expensive and complicated, and it was still considered uncertain if women were capable of handling the complexity. Our history is full of examples of activities effectively prevented en masse by society without being explicitly illegal. Just because our past is embarrassing doesn't make it untrue. Edit: With regards to how it integrates into my comments about drunk driving and designated drivers; having women become generally accepted as peers in the operation of automobiles changed the parameters for purchasing the vehicle for the household. If I'm going to continue drinking regularly, and I'm no longer allowed to drive drunk, and we collectively regard women as perfectly acceptable behind the wheel - I'm buying a car that I know my wife can drive as well as I can, not necessarily my preferred model.