Citation

Dowling R. Geoforum 2000; 31(3): 345-353.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0016-7185(99)00048-2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The increasing use of cars by women, especially mothers, is one of the more significant transport trends of the past decade. This paper suggests the need for a fresh approach to this issue, namely one that emphasises culture. It demonstrates the potential insights offered by this approach by using it to interpret a small-scale, qualitative case study of suburban mothers' motor vehicle use in Sydney, Australia. It suggests that the car is used as a [`]management tool', an aid in managing complex daily routines and to implement notions of [`]good mothering'. The study underlines the need for further, culturally aware, research on motor vehicle use and of the difficulties facing the development of successful sustainable transport policies.