The number of women in management and the automotive sector has grown in recent years, thanks to their own initiatives.
But we are still far from equality, since they occupy only 16% of board seats and 12% of vice-presidential and president positions in automotive companies.
These data come from Automotive Business's 2021 Diversity in the Automotive Sector report. Paula Braga – executive director of the content platform – reveals that there are still a number of challenges to overcome regarding the discrepant numbers.
The first is the need to spread awareness among automotive company leaders about the importance of ensuring diversity within organizations: "Which has been proven to increase profitability and innovation potential."
According to her, the automotive industry is even more subject to a series of rooted prejudices.
As evidenced by the fact that, consciously or unconsciously, managers opt for hiring and/or promoting men: "Women who enter the automotive sector end up having a shorter career, possibly due to a lack of opportunities for professional advancement."
He also says that the survey identified wage differences in the automotive industry motivated by gender: women earn 34% less than men performing the same function.
For these and other reasons, it is crucial that we discuss the female presence in the automotive market. Thus, they leave the backstage and assume the protagonism.
Therefore, in today's content we will address:
The role of women in the automotive market
Successful women in the management of the automotive sector
The importance of female presence in the automotive market
Regiane Aparecida Santos Pinto, head of the transportation sector at DETRAN/PR (the Paraná State Traffic Department) , says that at the beginning of her tenure she had to listen to comments like "women don't understand anything about cars" and "women don't understand anything about mechanics."
“I never let that stop me from carrying out the role I was approved for. What I didn't know, I tried to learn and went in search of more knowledge”, she points out.
“We women can carry out any activity, because we are capable and we can get where we want on our own merits, dedication and competence”, she concludes.
That is, the female presence in the automotive market is extremely important in several aspects.
One of the reasons is that it can inspire other women to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields and break down the stigmas that many of them still face.
Also because they bring a valuable perspective to the industry, beyond the stereotypes of cordiality and diplomacy.
No wonder they operate in different positions, from development, engineering and management to research, painting and repairs.
Thus, we will be moving towards more diversity and equal opportunities in the labor market in general.
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The role of women in the automotive market
Well, we cannot deny that many barriers have already been broken, but changes still need to and should continue to happen.
This is because according to the same Automotive Business report that we mentioned earlier, but now in relation to the distribution of the female workforce in the automotive sector, we observe that it occurs in:
- 56% in production and manufacturing lines
- 7% in marketing and sales areas
- 7% on purchases, supplies and logistics
- 5% in engineering and R&D
- 5% in human resources
- 4% in accounting and finance
- 1% in IT
In this sense, we conclude that the vast majority of women in management and employed in the automotive sector are in production and manufacturing.
Many companies even prioritize female talent to perform these functions, since they demand more attention to detail and refinement.
On the other hand, when we analyze salaries, it becomes clear that inequality is still a major challenge, since the average female pay is 15% lower than the male pay.
In leadership positions, the difference is even more striking: the average salary for women in management is 45% lower than that of men.
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Successful women in the management of the automotive sector
florence lawrence
Florence Lawrence was a pioneer in the automotive industry and played a significant role in the early days of automobile manufacturing.
That's because she was the first woman to have a career as a professional driver, after being known as the "original movie star" for her work in films.
But her impact on the automotive industry goes far beyond her driving skills and acting career.
After all, she was also the inventor of the first turn signal and brake signal for cars, which improved traffic safety and became a standard feature in modern vehicles.
Their contributions are a testament to the power of innovation and the important role women play in shaping the future of transport.
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Mary anderson
Mary Anderson played a pivotal role in the automotive industry with her invention of the windshield wiper.
In 1902, while on a trip, he noticed that the driver had to stop the train and manually clean the windshield in the middle of a snowstorm.
So this inspired her to create a device to improve drivers' visibility during inclement weather.
His invention was patented the following year and became a standard feature on automobiles in the year 1916.
Mary Anderson's contribution not only made driving safer, but also paved the way for future innovations in the automotive industry.
As a result, her legacy continues to be celebrated to this day as a pioneer for women in science and technology.
Silvia Barcik
Silvia Barcik is an administrator and designer, with more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and an expert in urban mobility for Latin America.
In addition to being the director of sustainable mobility at the Renault Institute , she led the arrival of Renault's first 100% electric vehicle in Brazil.
Despite collecting achievements, Silvia says that working at an automaker is a daily challenge for a woman, mainly to demonstrate knowledge, competence and bring a female vision to the business.
“A woman within an automaker, especially at the head of an area linked to mobility, has a lot to contribute, because, most of the time, we have a different relationship with the car”, defends the director.
“For many of us, the car is a mobility solution – safe and comfortable – to solve our problems. A more functional interface. With the enormous challenges facing cities, this vision contributes a lot to thinking outside the box and proposing disruptive solutions that improve the way we move”, he adds.
Helena Deyama
Helena Deyama is 1,54m tall, weighs 47 kilos and has a huge passion for motorsport. Contrary to all stereotypes, she bought a motorbike, then a jeep and became a professional rally driver. In the first competition, she won first place on the podium, winning a predominantly male majority.
“I make up for the lower physical strength compared to men with greater determination, discipline, technique, strategy and concentration”, defines the pilot.
“Knowing how to compete without destroying the equipment, using your head and the knowledge acquired through experience has proven to be a successful strategy”, he adds.
And it does, in 2005, Helena became the first woman to win a Brazilian rally championship. She won the Brazilian Baja Rally Championship in 2014, and two years later, the second championship.
The pilot has already participated in 15 editions of the Rally dos Sertões, the main competition of the sport in Brazil and carried out several expeditions of up to 10 thousand kilometers throughout South America, in groups, or in the best company, that of her jeep, which so much fought to buy it.
In other words, women bring diversity, creativity and innovation to the table, essential factors for any industry to thrive in an ever-evolving market.
Having a female presence in the most diverse positions can lead to a more inclusive and collaborative work culture.
By doing this, we can ensure that the sector remains competitive and relevant, and that women in management have a voice and a place in shaping its future.
Here at Golfleet , we encourage and support career pursuits and offer opportunities for everyone to excel in a welcoming environment that understands the importance of humanized leadership.
And we share the same values of acceptance, understanding and empathy with our customers.
So, hoping to inspire you, we would like to share with you the stories of our success stories, with teams of people who work with the purpose and respect that fleet management deserves.
