Why is the Volvo Logo the Symbol for Male?

It’s for certain that you won’t be mistaking the Volvo logo for the logo of another car. That’s because it bears the word “Volvo” right in the dead center of it — “Hey, I’m not a Toyota or a Honda, but a Volvo!” However, what’s quite certain is this: its badge looks like it’s the symbol for the male gender.

But before you assume that Volvo is a sexist for using a male symbol, keep on reading this article first. Below we will talk about the reason why Volvo’s logo makes it seem like it wants to appeal more to men than women. And after checking out the entirety of this article, feel free to share it on social media so that your friends may also get to know the real deal.

A Quick Look Behind the Name

Getting to know Volvo more is a good idea as this will make it easier to understand why its cars are stamped with a badge that unmistakably stands for the male gender. You’ll be surprised to learn that it’s not what it looks like! Once you know the real reason behind it, the way that you see Volvo cars will change.

Volvo is a Swedish car manufacturing company that first came into being back in 1926. Its founders, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson wanted to give their joint car-making venture a name that’s easy to pronounce and spell, thus keeping their customers from various parts of the world from committing a mistake when mentioning or writing the brand.

This is why they decided to name their company “Volvo”. It’s actually taken from the Latin word “volvere”, which means “to roll” in English. However, the Latin word is different when it is used in the first person — it suddenly becomes “Volvo” or “I roll” in English. Apparently, the name “Volvo” is all about highlighting the movement of an automobile.

The Astrological Symbol for Mars

Are you wondering what the origin of the male symbol is, which is what seems like what Volvo is using as its logo? Well, it is the very same symbol for Mars, who is the Roman god of war. For those who are not into mythology, Mars is plain and simple our neighboring red planet, which is named after Mars, the Roman god, and not the chocolate bar.

The symbol for Mars consists of two distinct elements: a circle and an arrow. The circle represents a shield, which doesn’t come as a surprise since Mars is the god of war. The arrow, which is pointing upwards diagonally or northeast, represents a sword. Again, it has something to do with what the Roman god is associated with.

On the other hand, the female symbol is the very same symbol for Venus, which is another neighboring planet of ours. The symbol for Venus consists of a circle and a cross pointing downwards. No, it doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity — the symbol for Venus represents a handheld mirror with a cross-like handle.

Mars is Not the Inspiration

Unfortunately, it’s not Mars that inspired the Swedish company responsible for producing Volvo cars. When the people behind the automobile manufacturer were choosing from among different logos, they kept in mind some of the things that their home country was known for. So what they went for was steel production.

Sweden is popular for steel manufacturing. As a matter of fact, back in World War I, the country was the biggest importer of steel used by warring countries for making weapons.

What is one element necessary for making steel? Iron! Coincidentally, the chemical symbol for iron is the very same symbol for Mars and the male gender, too. So there — the Volvo Volvo’s logo, does not represent any Roman god or a specific gender, but a chemical associated with an industry that Sweden is known for across the planet.

Representing the Strength of Iron

Did you know that the Volvo logo has a name? It’s none other than the “Iron Mark”. The Swedish car manufacturing company decided to stamp its vehicles with the chemical symbol for iron as it represents exactly what Volvo is all about: strength and durability. Well, to date, Volvo enthusiasts love that their favorite cars are long-lasting.

The logo that Volvo uses comes in the color silver, which stands for refinement and perfection. On the other hand, the color blue, which is used as the background for the next part of the badge, represents wisdom and dependability.

Because the car’s name is from the Latin word for “I roll”, it goes without saying that the symbol used by Volvo means “rolling strength”. Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, the founders, were right for choosing such an emblem because, since its inception back in 1927, Volvo is still going strong!

Not a Lot of Changes Happened

If you log to the web and look for Volvo logos throughout history, you may only come across a few of them. It’s because the logo used by Volvo remained pretty much the same since the time it was chosen by its Swedish founders. There may have been a few minor tweaks here and there, but the car’s badge didn’t undergo major changes at all.

For instance, back in 2014, the word “Volvo” was placed inside the circle. Before the said year, the word “Volvo” extended to the sides of the circle. But that was it — there was no significant overhauling to the logo done.

You may not see any changes to the iconic logo anytime soon. That’s because when Ford purchased Volvo back in 1999, one of the stipulations in the contract said that the logo during the purchase had to remain in use. If you are a huge Volvo fan, you can rest assured that its easily-recognizable badge won’t change sooner or later, unlike many car logos.

Just Before You Go

The next time that someone accuses Volvo of being a sexist because it seems like it is using the symbol for the male gender as its logo, now you know what to say: the car neither represents a guy or the Roman god of war, but the element iron. It’s easier to appreciate the Volvo logo once you get acquainted with the real story behind it.

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