Samochód, tożsamość i płeć kulturowa

Abstract

My article is devoted to selected contexts of the car as a sociological phenomena, primarily in the context of the constructions of gender. I am convinced that the car is not only a product of modern technology; it is connected with meanings and symbols of the socio-cultural reality. It is a symbol of freedom, autonomy, individualism and privacy. From the very beginning of its existence, the car was seen as an integral part of male identity and the “car culture” was seen as definitely masculine. However, in the first decades of the twentieth century women driving cars have become a powerful symbol of gender equality. The author discusses these problems in the context of contemporary culture.