Ladies on the Lot: Women, Car Sales, and the Pursuit of the American Dream

by Helene M. Lawson

Overview

In this unique and lively ethnography of women who sell cars, sociologist Helene M. Lawson and the “ladies on the lot” take readers behind the scenes of one of the last bastions of a predominantly male workplace: the car dealership. Linking the women’s own stories within the broader framework of gender and occupation, Lawson presents an engaging and important case study on the impact of gender differences and behavior in the workplace. In doing so, Ladies on the Lot makes an original contribution to the field and will be of interest for a wide variety of courses, including gender and occupations, the sociology of work, the sociology of women, and various courses in women’s studies and qualitative methods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461638575
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/30/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	175
File size:	426 KB

About the Author

Helene M. Lawson is professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Introduction
Part 3 Behind The Scenes
Chapter 4 En Route to Selling
Chapter 5 Green Pea Counters, Country Clubs, and “Girly” Stores: The Politics of Dealership Location
Chapter 6 Life on the Floor
Part 7 On the Lot
Chapter 8 Pinches, Pats, and Pokes: Negotiating the Hostile Environment of the Sales Floor
Chapter 9 Toughened Up: Everyday Life On the Floor
Part 10 Off the Lot
Chapter 11 On and Off the Floor: Finding a Balance
Chapter 12 Having What it Takes: Who Leaves, Who Stays, and the Potential for Building Successful Careers
Chapter 13 Conclusion: The Sum of Opportunity for Women Car Sales Agents
Chapter 14 Epilogue: On the Road
Chapter 15 Appendix: Fieldwork

What People are Saying About This

Patricia A. Adler

Contributing to the growing literature on how women cross the gender divide and struggle for survival in traditional male trades, this occupational study offers insights into the ordeals women sales agents encounter on the automobile lots across America. Lawson's typologies are rich and descriptive, probing many different facets of women's car sales careers, including navigating the selling floor, relating with colleagues and customers, and negotiating the contract. Anyone who has ever experienced the onerous task of purchasing a car will be enlightened by this behind-the-scenes account of the process. Students of gender and work and occupations will find it a delightful read.
—(Patricia A. Adler, University of Colorado )

E Doyle. McCarthy

Lawson's Ladies on the Lot is an example of the finest work being done in qualitative social science today. Her interviews and fieldwork succeed in making these women come alive as they tell us their stories and draw us into their lives of struggles and dreams. This is a wonderful book to teach with, for it shows us how culture, class, and gender are played out in the lives of ordinary people and what it costs women to pursue their dreams of making it in America today. This study is a rare and insightful look at many of the changes that came upon American women and men in the decade 1988 to 1999!
—(E. Doyle McCarthy, Fordham University )

Editorial Reviews

Helene Lawson has provided a richly detailed, fascinating look at women who work in car sales. She astutely reveals an interesting new world to the reader. This work makes a major contribution to the study of women in non-traditional occupations.

Gender & Society

Contributing to the growing literature on how women cross the gender divide and struggle for survival in traditional male trades, this occupational study offers insights into the ordeals women sales agents encounter on the automobile lots across America. Lawson's typologies are rich and descriptive, probing many different facets of women's car sales careers, including navigating the selling floor, relating with colleagues and customers, and negotiating the contract. Anyone who has ever experienced the onerous task of purchasing a car will be enlightened by this behind-the-scenes account of the process. Students of gender and work and occupations will find it a delightful read.

Patricia A. Adler

Should be of interest to students of gender and work, as well as anyone who has experienced the arduous task of buying a new car.

Sociological Abstracts

Lawson’s Ladies on the Lot is an example of the finest work being done in qualitative social science today. Her interviews and fieldwork succeed in making these women come alive as they tell us their stories and draw us into their lives of struggles and dreams. This is a wonderful book to teach with, for it shows us how culture, class, and gender are played out in the lives of ordinary people and what it costs women to pursue their dreams of making it in America today. This study is a rare and insightful look at many of the changes that came upon American women and men in the decade 1988 to 1999!

E. Doyle McCarthy