GM Announces First Female Production Head
General Motors appointed their first female to the position of Production Development Head. To the company, it’s a question of experience and company loyalty. To many online car fans and forum posters, this decision brings out inklings of misogyny.
Do some actually feel a woman can’t decide what’s best for an car company? Apparently so.
Mary Barra, 49, “will oversee 36,000 engineers, designers and other staff at GM locations” globally. Her qualifications far surpass this job description: Barra comes with an engineering background, previously serving as vice president of GM’s global manufacturing engineering. She has experience as a plant manager, along with internal communications at the company. She was also vice president of human resources at General Motors.
“This is breaking an important barrier, and it’s well overdue,” said Lorraine Schultz, founder and CEO of the Women’s Automotive Association International.
“We’ve been watching Mary Barra for a long time. She’s been an up-and-comer so it wasn’t a total shock,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at Edmunds.
People are all well aware of how male-dominated the auto industry hierarchy is – but according Krebs, “Over 80% of vehicle purchase decisions in the U.S. are influenced by women.” It makes perfect business sense to hire a female, and the best person for the job. But jokes about women drivers and ladies not being able to pump gas or change a tire are rampant across the web.
It is not totally surprising, as any drastic change in such a high-power position will bring controversy. But from this blogger’s point of view, it’s downright disappointing. As blog commentators trade stereotypes of female drivers, they too are perpetuating a stereotype – the sexiest motorhead.
For the record – two of the most auto-knowledgeable people this blogger has ever known are both female. One of them rebuilt a Monte Carlo practically from scratch.
Source: CNN
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