Transcending the Stereotype of the Woman Driver
A commonly held stereotype is that women are poor drivers. Two experiments have confirmed that women made twice as many driving mistakes after hearing that cliché! All women who had heard of the stereotype expected or self-reported to have driven poorly.
Women and girls who have heard and believed this characterization—long before getting licensed to drive—nonetheless outperform male drivers; they cause fewer accidents and drive more safely. For example:
According to traffic collision data collected from the LA Police Department, 60 percent of car accidents in Los Angeles County are caused by men, compared to 40 percent caused by women. Research shows that men have a 3.1% greater chance of being ticketed for reckless driving than women. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that over the course of a year, men represent 71 percent of casualties, while women accounted for 29 percent.
According to their study published almost ten years ago in Accident Analysis & Prevention, three women researchers found that women drive well when they have not been confronted with the stereotype of women’s poor driving skills. The study’s authors found, however, that women fail to believe this—despite the proofs of published data and of their good driving performance, the experience of being a successful driver is not enough for women to transcend the illusion of the stereotype to believe that they drive well.
Transcendental Meditation increases self-confidence. The TM technique also improves key skills that make a woman a safer driver.
During the TM practice, our mind effortlessly settles to quieter levels of thinking, tapping the inner reservoir of creativity and intelligence at its silent depths. Simultaneously the body gains deep rest and releases accumulated stress and tension. This results in rejuvenated energy, greater clarity, and calmness. Published research has shown that Transcendental Meditation improves focus, reaction time, and mind-body coordination—all vital to safer driving.
TM also improves emotional stability, resilience, and self-esteem. So, learn TM, transcend the hackneyed societal bias that women drivers are inferior drivers, and enjoy the ride!
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About the Author
Janet Hoffman is the executive director of TM for Women Professionals, a division of TM for Women in the USA
