Women are awfully amazing beings. Women can grow an entirely new human inside of themselves. They muster through excruciating pain to bear that child, and then their body creates a food source from their own supply of nutrients. While not all women choose to or are able to take this life path – and that is 100% ok, and some might need a little help to nudge the process along, this is the one thing that women can do that no man can, at least not without a considerable amount of science involved.
If you think that’s neat, you should watch her turn a wrench. She will do it and do it well. She will do it with the same, if not more confidence, knowledge, and grit, than her male counterparts.
We are astronauts and shop owners. We are engineers and mechanics. We are doctors and transmission builders. We are women; hear us roar.
“Welcome to Parts World. What are you working on today?” The company name may be made up, but I said those exact words day in and day out as customers walked through the door. Some knew exactly what they needed, while others were lost and required the guidance of the counterperson, even if it was a woman. I sold spark plugs and starters, brake pads, and batteries. I knew part numbers by heart and could test a battery and install wiper blades like a pro. I was the goddess of auto parts – the right part, the first time, every time.
Unfortunately, not everyone agreed. There was a customer that wandered into my store on a hot midsummer day. Dressed in cut-off shorts and a sleeveless AC/DC shirt two sizes too small, he approached the counter while yelling into his cell phone at some undeserving recipient. I may have had my reservations about this fella but held my judgment at bay. He, however, did not provide the same courtesy. He clearly thought I wasn’t worthy of my gray polo shirt, name tag, and perch behind the counter. In response to my well-rehearsed welcome message, he retorted, “I will not buy my parts from a girl. Get me a man”. This potential customer only saw me as female. He defined my ability based on my gender alone. He did know that I had more parts counter experience than most of the men that worked in this particular store. He also didn’t know that I attended our local tech college for automotive collision repair and that I aced the steering and suspension portion of the program.
As he stood there flailing his rusty tie rod end, demanding someone that he believed to be more qualified, I did not beckon for my male counterpart. My feelings were not hurt, and no tears were shed. But more importantly, no transaction was going to be made. I simply informed him that I was fully capable of providing the service he needed and that I was the only thing standing in between him and the shiny new part he coveted. This customer chose to leave. The store lost a twenty-dollar sale. However, the gain women in the automotive field achieved was invaluable. Regardless of how small, every step towards equality and acceptance is a step in the right direction.
This story was almost twenty years ago, and since then, women’s presence in the auto care industry has grown. Yet the stigma of being a minority in a gender-dominated occupation is not gone. It lingers just under the surface, and all too often rears its ugly head to discriminate. Whether it be a dismissive look, an underhanded comment made just loud enough to be heard, or a blatant refusal of service, the doubt of a woman’s ability in a “man’s job” persists.
Like colors and toys, career paths and job roles have no gender. It’s our bias and predisposition that make pink a girl color, trucks a boy toy, and the auto care industry a man’s profession.
How do we break the cycle of defining based solely on who a person is, what job they should be doing, and how can we make the industry more appealing and safer for women? What can we do to increase gender diversity in the automotive industry? How can we stop making snap judgments regarding the quality of service we’ll receive? I do not have the magic answers. But I do have some suggestions.
- Trust. As the customer, trust that the company would not allow an inept person to fill a position that could threaten the business’s success. As an underdog, that female working in the shop has likely invested her time and money to become the best of the best. She has had to prove herself and her ability and will continue having to do so to be seen as an equal.
- Be Open. Just because you have never experienced something doesn’t make it bad or wrong. Use the trust found above and take the leap. As a business owner or hiring manager, give her a chance to shine. Hire the woman – not because you’re trying to hit a diversity quota, but because she has talent and will likely work to prove herself daily. Give these pioneers a chance to make you a believer.
- Be a Mentor. So, your daughter, sister, niece, or female friend wants to get her feet wet in the wide world of auto care? Take her under your wing. Promote learning and encourage involvement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects and the manufacturing sector. Help create a new generation of future women who will be prepared to enter the auto world without hesitation. If you’re a business owner lucky enough to already have female staff, foster their growth. Teach and provide job and industry knowledge. Allow for and encourage development that can lead to potential promotions.
- Don’t Be a Jerk. If you don’t want to buy your parts from a girl, don’t. But keep it to yourself. Your opinion of a person’s professional career choice is just that. Yours. If you don’t want to hire a woman just because she is a woman, know that you are hurting your business. You are missing out on great talent and amazing tenacious people.
- Join an Organization. To my fellow workers who chose a path male gender-dominated, join affinity groups. For instance, groups like Women in Auto Care and Amazing Women in Automotive are dedicated to the advancement, empowerment, and education of women throughout the industry. Women’s Industry Network has similar goals and focuses on women in the collision repair facet of our industry. These organizations’ sole purpose is to support you and your success in your chosen career path. Seek out local or online groups of like-minded individuals that will support you. Use the resources.
After more than twenty years in the auto care industry, I no longer allow myself to see the skeptical gazes or hear the doubt in a customer’s voice. I no longer see myself as a woman in a team full of men. I am just another member of the group. I am unique in ways that are not defined by my gender.
To all the women rockstars who live, breathe, and bust their rears in the auto care industry, you are an inspiration to the next generation of females. Keep going. Never let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough, smart enough, or “man” enough to succeed in anything that piques your interest.
Real people wear pink. Anyone can turn a wrench, go to space, or deliver a baby. Ride Sally ride.
We are women. This is our roar.
About the Author
Sari Rivera is a transmission industry veteran. You might recognize Sari as the “Siren of Support” for ETE’s Reman U where her cleverly creative writing style makes her articles both fun and helpful.
We welcome Sari’s insightful creativity and look forward to future articles. Let us know how much you enjoyed Sari’s article by sending an email to rbland@atra.com.
You can also reach out to Sari by emailing to srivera@etereman.com.
