>In my estimation, I'm afraid the SUV has far more flexibility as both a mode
>of transport and as a cultural signifier to be reducible to the "surrogate
>phallus" hypothesis, which is precisely why it's so damn pervasive. I think
>I read somewhere that as many women as men purchase and/or drive SUV's.
>(Granted, there is all kind of market differentiation within the general
>product line -- more "feminine" and "masculine" prototypes, if you will).
> From my strictly anecdotal perspective I see as many yuppie women tooling
> around
>in SUV's as I do macho men.
Well. I don't suppose there's any reason to think there won't be a lot of women who'll want to live up to the prevailing ideal, eh, whatever it is. It's not like women are immune to the seductions of power and power symbols.
cheers, Joanna S.
www.overlookhouse.com