Merman Archive September/October

September/October Merman question -

Dear Merman,

Whenever I ride in the car with my father or other men, I hear snide comments about women drivers. Where did this myth start, and do you think it's well founded? How do you feel about women drivers?

Signed,

A Woman on the Roads

Dear Woman on the Roads:

This is a tough question for me because we mer-people have a difficult time driving due to our flippers, so I had to access some of your earthbound research to come up with the real answer. In my world, both mermaids and mermen swim equally well. In your world, I have found, not so!

The next time your dad and other men start making snide comments about women drivers challenge them to find one piece of research or literature that backs their claim that women are worse drivers than men. (You may even want to put a few clamshells down on this challenge.) Statistically, nothing could be farther from the truth. Even insurance companies recognize the difference between men and women drivers, charging less for lady drivers than men. I couldn't find one piece of research that supported the stereo-type that women are worse drivers than men. In fact, miles being equal, men are 77% more likely to die in an accident than a woman. Some say it is because of the more aggressive nature of men. I guess that just means that the manly testosterone makes them dumb while driving! But, take heart men, women accidents are on the rise. Some day women will be just as bad at driving as the men out there! Experts say that it is because women are becoming more aggressive. Aggression leads to risky behavior, and risky behavior leads to accidents. (How true in so many things!) 

As far as the origins of this stereo-type: it probably comes from the horse and buggy days when women were not allowed to drive - by most short-sighted males – probably sometime before women were allowed to vote! The men gave themselves a head start, and then probably criticized the women for not being good drivers when in reality it was just due to their lack of experience. Stereotypes are ugly and tough to shed, particularly amongst those of us who refuse to recognize the facts.

Let's face it, there are bad drivers who look like they are "just thinking of something else", and good drivers who actually obey the traffic rules, like going the speed limit. (I am sure that drives some men nuts!) Men and women fall into both categories, but if I want to go for a statistically safer ride around the block, I am riding with a woman every time. You men out there… you might take the opportunity to let go of some of your control, (Scary, I know, but you can do it!) let her drive, and enjoy the view for a change. It can be very relaxing, and you are in statistically, safer hands!

Respectfully,

The Merman

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