memoirs of a car girl
When people ask, "When did you become a car girl?" I often have to hold back a laugh. They think it's some new phase, a cute hobby, or maybe just an excuse to hang around muscle cars. The answer? I’ve loved cars since I was 12, if not even earlier. Back then, it started with just admiring the way they looked—those sleek designs, the aggressive stances. But as I got older, the infatuation turned technical. I wanted to know what made them tick, why certain engines sounded like a growl while others hummed. I learned just how sophisticated an engine is, and with that knowledge came confidence… at first.
Then, reality set in. You quickly find out that even if you know your stuff, as a girl, people just don’t want to believe it. There’s a line for us in the car world, and it’s written in permanent ink: Girls don’t like cars. Or if they do, it’s assumed they know just enough to pick out a nice paint color. So I did what many car-loving girls do: I hid it. Every time I tried to share my passion, it was either dismissed or flat-out ignored, and eventually, it just felt easier to keep quiet.
But you know what’s funny? That passion for cars never really goes away. I gained enough confidence to start casually talking cars again, thinking maybe now, finally, I’d get a fair shot. But here comes another roadblock: If you’re not ASE certified, or covered in grease, you’re just pretending. And if you do know your stuff, it’s never quite enough. So yeah, I buried it again. Shrunk that part of myself down to make it “easier” for everyone else.
Then I had a revelation: Screw that. I love cars. I’ve always loved them. I’ve earned my place here, and I’m done tiptoeing around it. So I took a chance and showed up at an all-women’s car club meetup. Finally, a place where I knew I wouldn’t be dismissed or doubted just because of my gender. And there, I found the thing I’d been missing all along—community. A place where I could just be, no questions asked.
So now, when people ask, “When did you become a car girl?” I smile, because I’ve always been a car girl. The difference? Now I don’t hide it.
In a world where automotive passion is often gendered, women enthusiasts like car girls have been carving out their space. The narrative illustrates not only personal experience but also the broader context of female participation in the automotive industry. With rising initiatives and groups like all-women car clubs, the landscape is changing. Events like Cars & Coffee and track days are welcoming more women, creating opportunities to learn, share, and showcase skills. The growing visibility of female automotive influencers on social media platforms helps break down stereotypes and inspires the next generation of female petrolheads. This change not only empowers women but enriches the car culture with diverse perspectives and experiences. It's time to celebrate passion for cars, regardless of gender, and to foster inclusive communities where everyone feels welcome. The memoirs of car girls exemplify this shift, highlighting resilience and the collective drive towards equality in the automotive realm. Engaging with platforms and hashtags such as #SheLovesCars and #GirlsBehindTheWheel amplifies these voices, creating a movement that says car passion knows no gender.
