“Girly” Car Accessories

When it comes to customizing cars, it’s not uncommon to see dice hanging from a rearview mirror or neon lights glowing from the undercarriage.

However, there are a wealth of web sites dedicated to “girly” car accessories—things like bud vases you can attach to the car’s heating vents, pink fuzzy steering wheel covers, and bejeweled charms, reminiscent of dangling navel rings, to hang from the mirror.

If you're planning on buying someone a "girly"

car accessory this holiday season, make sure

they're the kind of person who will appreciate it.

And while some of us might enjoy having a litte flair in our cars (I won’t name names…), we have to wonder if these types of websites aren’t a little sexist. Does not wanting these sorts of accessories in your car mean you’re less of a woman, less feminine than someone who does? On the flip side, does enjoying these sorts of details mean you’re a ditzy, flakey teenage-esque lady? Of course not—so why are these products marketed as such?

Websites such as CarDecor.com and the self-explanatory PinkCarAccessoriesShop.com (where—you guessed it—pink car accessories are sold) offer up plenty of accessories to make your car, well, girlier (in theory), while other web sites, like GirlsLoveWheels.com also include articles like “Teen Girl Car Guide.” While it’s no surprise that some women would have no problem purchasing a leopard print seat cover, we would think most women would take offense at an article titled, “Gas Gauges Explained.”

So are these stores fulfilling a need or being patronizing? Surely, women (and we’re not even going to say “most women” here—the gas gauge is not rocket science… not that women can’t do that either—ack, forget it) don’t need an explanation that “F” means full and “E” means empty, but it’s not hurting anyone to offer glitzy keychains, seat covers that say “Diva,” or a zebra-print seatbelt cushion. Just make sure if you’re buying one of these gifts for someone that you’re sure they’re the type of person who’d enjoy them.