The most powerful man in motor racing has said that women will never be taken seriously as drivers because they aren't strong enough.
Bernie Ecclestone "females can't race in F1" @alicepowell has won multiple championships+beats men in the process! pic.twitter.com/OixcAx3vSe
— Mark Garrett (@_Mark_Garrett) 20 April 2016
However, history has proven that this is not always the case. Sputnik has put together a list of careers, previously considered too much for a woman, but at which "the fairer sex" excelled at.
Mechanics
Prior to World War 1, being a female mechanic would have been considered absurd. A profession dominated by men had not seen the female touch until the start of the war. By 1917, the army was running short of men because so many of them had been injured and killed on the front line.
This led to women joining the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and fixing vehicles used in the war. A number of jobs were also later identified as those which did not involve fighting and those which were being carried out by men who could have been in battle instead.
JANUARY 1917
— Bill Badey (@10903) April 1, 2016
During World War I the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was founded@cspanwj #tcot pic.twitter.com/4YJD5jPT8y
It was decided that women could do many of these jobs and that they could replace male soldiers in offices, canteens, transport, stores and army bases.
By the end of the war in 1918, more than 50,000 women had joined the WAAC, some working in war zones in France, Belgium, Italy and Greece. The volunteers did a variety of jobs.
Bishops
The issue of female bishops was a controversial one — and polarized society. However, the Church of England finally succumbed and consecrated its first female bishop.
#BishopLibbyLane at Chester Cathedral, after her ordination and consecration one year ago #anglican #apostles. pic.twitter.com/9aZRbBpuke
— Nicolas Boisson ن (@BNicolas9) January 26, 2016
The Right Reverend Libby Lane, 48, was made the Bishop of Stockport in front of more than 1,000 people in January 2015.
Baseball Players
Baseball has typically been considered a male-only sport, with women not really being taken serious enough to play or in some instances, even being allowed to participate.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, was founded in 1943 and ran until 1954. Over 600 women played baseball and were part of the league.
It was this group of women that inspired the inspirational 1992 film, 'A League of Their Own'.
Technology
Women and technology was previously not a well-known combination or phrase.
Women make up just 24 per cent of the work force in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), according to the US Department of Commerce. However, that gap is closing fast and girls are increasingly signing up for high school courses and college degrees in math and science, according to the US Department of Education. Initiatives like mentoring programs are also making a difference.
Chefs
Often when we think of chefs, names like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver come up. However, the industry, previously dominated by men, has seen an increasing number of female chefs equally cooking up a storm in the kitchen — as well as for women's equality.
The team #toomanycritics @RobinHutson @ewanventers @merchantstavern pic.twitter.com/7iKsAfxLJV
— Angela Hartnett (@AngelaHartnett) June 28, 2015
Raising the flag for female chefs everywhere are Angela Hartnett MBE, Nigella Lawson and Lorraine Pascale, to name a few.
