FISH OUT OF WATER
In the world of motorcycle
technicians, it’s a known fact that
most of them are that of the male
persuasion. In fact, less than 10%
(reported in 2015) are females . If
you were raised “old school”, and are
a female, then your parents probably
had dreams of you becoming prom
queen, marrying your high school
sweetheart, having kids, staying
home, and mastering the art of baking
cakes and pies. And according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015,
only about 27% of jobs in the motor
vehicle equipment manufacturing
industry were made up of women.
And a small percentage, less than
8%, worked in automotive repair.
The number of female motorcycle
mechanics have grown since 2015,
but not by much. The fact is that some
of the women I interviewed said that
they were motivated to become techs
for a couple of reasons. One is that they
were divorced and had never had a
job outside the home and were either
By: Renee
Don’t Be a Damsel
By: Rebecca Dewberry
forced to out of necessity and wanted
to make a good living to provide for
their children. Another big reason was
that they were riders themselves and
had become victims of some random
guy ripping them off simply because
they did not understand how their
2 wheeled machines functioned.
Because of some of these shady
technicians taking advantage, A LOT of
women (and people in general), they
decided to go to school and become
the best techs they could be. Now
before you get bent out of shape if you
are a mechanic or technician reading
this, remember that to avoid being
pissed off about this article, don’t
practice doing this to people. Then
you have nothing to worry about.
To avoid being ripped off or
overcharged, use the technology
we have today! The internet is full of
information to help guide you in the
event you need a mechanic on your
bike or vehicle. Also, make sure you
get at least 3 different shops to give
you quotes or before you know it, you
go in for an oil change and the “shady
shop” will talk you into extra parts and
services you do not need. So, get to
know your ride and understand the
simple mechanics that goes into
keeping your machine on the road,
ladies. Don’t think we’ve forgotten
the good ones though. HATS OFF to
all the honest mechanics out there,
male and female alike!
Unless you live under a rock, or just flat out don’t care about your
surroundings, you’ve probably heard about the influx of women being targeted
in broad daylight in public places. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a damn
damsel in distress, so today I’m here to give you ladies a few pointers on ways to
help yourselves not be a victim to these clowns safely and effectively.
Trust your sisters. Travel in packs. This seems like a no brainer but there really
is safety in numbers. The good thing about this community is that it is a family
with a loyalty like no other. Take care of each other. Sometimes, we’re all each
other’s got.
When you’re in a parking lot, have your keys in your hand. Don’t fidget for
your keys when you get there. Unlock it when you get to it, get in, and leave.
Unlocking it across the parking lot gives someone time to hop in and wait for
you. And I know everyone jokes about the “van with no windows”, but you
better believe I’ve crawled in from the passenger side when one was parked on
the driver’s side of my car. No ma’am. In the infamous words of Heather Land,
“I ain’t doin it.”
On another note, I always find it funny when I’m sitting in a bar and a fight
breaks out between two women and the first line of defense is grabbing for the
other woman’s hair. Well- that’s cute, but unless your assailant has a mullet, that
won’t be very helpful. But this isn’t the high school cafeteria and we aren’t 13
anymore. Find yourself a self-defense training that fits your needs. Personally,
I like Krav Maga, a form of Israeli street fighting that requires no weapons and
is meant for real world
situations.
Speaking of bars,
getting completely
trashed makes you one
of the easiest targets out there. Think about it. You’re three sheets to the wind,
you’re useless when it comes to defending yourself. It’s not a bad thing to have
a good time but do it safely and with people who are going to look out for you.
Predators look for people who stereotypically look like victims. Ponytails,
braids, straps and anything that can be easily cut off make you a target. How
many of us throw our hair up for that helmet? Ladies! I can’t stress it enough.
Watch out for each other. There is safety in numbers!
And last, but not least... If you’re going to get a weapon, LEARN HOW TO USE
IT. There are many ranges that offer lanes to rent for a reasonable fee at your
convenience for target practice. Remember- It is required (and smart) to have
ear and eye protection! While we’re on the subject, do some research on your
parish or county law on Concealed Carry. Take a class and learn something. Don’t
depend on your front seat. Do something for yourself. Be independent. Be able
to protect YOU and YOURS. You are worth it.
While I hope you never have to use any of these little tips, I hope you’ve found
them helpful. I just couldn’t sit and watch another woman fall victim and not
pass these little pearls of wisdom on. Stay vigilant, ladies.
Dan B’s
Famous
Roast
Beef
Shrimp and
Andouille
Creole
Pasta
Chicken
Florentine
Pork
Chops
12 Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi | August 2018 | www.thunderroadslams.com
www.thunderroadslams.com | August 2018 | Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi
13