What can the motorsport of Formula One teach us about feminism?
The modern history of both feminism, and Formula One motor racing can be traced back to World War II, and their progression has been running in parallel ever since.
Nazi interest in demonstrating technical expertise to the world led to Germany’s dominance of Grand Prix in the 1930s. After 1945 many engineers and aerodynamicists were left without their wartime employment building fighter jets, allowing them to channel expertise into F1 engineering.
The war necessitated that women undertake traditionally male roles while the men were fighting, and at the end of WWII equality had been accelerated.
Progress in both F1 and feminism has stalled at times. The ‘formula’ in F1 refers to the set of rules to which the cars must adhere, and on occasion technical progress has been limited by more stringent regulation. Beyond the formula, it is the skill of the drivers that determines the competition.
What most epitomises F1 is the famous rivalries. Senna and Prost. Webber and Vettel. Lauda and Hunt.
James Hunt and Niki Lauda dominated the sport in the mid-1970s. They were rivals who achieved success in very different ways. Lauda was known for his technical skill and consistency, while Hunt was famous for his flamboyance and, as he put it succinctly in an interview in 1976, “big balls”. As a racer Lauda was cold, clinical and scientific, while Hunt ran hot with adrenaline and bravado. Yet intensity and commitment to their sport ruled both men.
Despite different styles, both Lauda and Hunt had immense passion for racing, and regarded the rivalry as a useful catalyst to push them to achieve greater success. Their negotiations and escalations on the racetrack turned them both into better drivers, and ultimately champions. The frisson of rivalries and disagreements create opportunities for progress.
There is no one way to practise feminism. There is no formula, there is no set of rules that a governing body has mandated. There will never be one abiding definition of how all of the people in the world understand what gender equality means (or even if that is, in fact, the ultimate goal of feminism).
Is the constant argument about how to practise modern feminism somehow diluting it? No.
Keep arguing about what it means to be a feminist. Intense feminist rivalries should be encouraged, there should be debates that feature women with different approaches to feminism battling it out. It should matter if you take one side or another.
We are negotiating our way towards greater understanding. More people are being exposed to ideas that will expand the concept of equality. Actively considering and progressing the politics of feminism is essential. For feminism to continue to be a relevant concern we have to keep arguing about what it means and how to live it – to accelerate progress, to keep the meaning and purpose alive.
Now, what can feminism teach F1?
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