A question about mechanics...?

Question

as a teenager, my dad told me that the best deisel mechanic he knew of was a woman (dad always had a deisel pick-up)... yet I find that a lot of people think that because I am a woman, I am completely oblivious when it comes to mechanics (ie, I remember going into a parts store, and before the guy at the counter would get me the part he asked what the problem was in a very demeaning tone then told me I didn't know what I was talking about... had to fib and tell him that I was getting the part for my dad for him to go get the part). I am going to be enrolling at WyoTech within the next 6 months and eventually plan to own my own shop (a partnership with my nephew who is also going to the school). Just so I know completely what I am getting into, how much gender based bias do you think I am going to run into? And why do guys think that because I am a woman that I don't know anything about cars (besides the fact that most women don't/won't want to get their hands dirty)?

Just an FYI... I grew up in a family of mechanics... guess you can say I have it in my blood... when I took the ASVAB (thought of going into the military at one point) I scored extremely high in the mechanics section FOR A GUY... let alone for a woman... and I do all the general maintainance on my own vehicles... always have...

I'm in Northern California... a place of GREAT diversity (for those that haven't been nere) and I still get that attitude... kinda irritating, really... I mostly get it from a spacific parts store (which I don't go to anymore) and from car salesmen who think that because I am female, I am easy prey (though watching my female room mate try and buy a car I know why that is)... and up until my current car and it's issues, I haven't had to deal with diffucult mechanical issues (would like to take a .357 to my block and put it out of my misery... lol) unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) I have to be "hands-on" to learn anything... I know I'll be good at my craft once I learn all I can about it... and I've never had an issue with prooving myself... had to do that all my life... I just wanted to know what I would be up against is all...

ok... reading through some of these answers, I find that people are giving advise on how to deal with gender based bias in my chosen profession... or WHY more women don't becone mechanics... one guy said that you could teach a monkey to do the work (not these days you can't... maybe if you're talking about a vehicle that doesn't have any computer in it or smog s**t)... as far as abrasive language... my dad was a mechanic for the Navy and Coast Guard... I, too, cuss like a sailor when provoked... I am also over oppinionated and mouthy... I can give it as well as take it...

what I asked was...

HOW MUCH gender based bias do you think I will run into?

Thus far, only one guy got it... and he only said something about the South... like I said, though, I am in Northern California... big difference... he probably only knows about the South... kudos to him for trying...
(If I sound bitchy, I am sorry... I have this mad sinus infection and I feel like crap... therefore I have a 'tude)

Answer 1

I've worked in automotive for years as a service manager in dealerships... I'm the one who would hire the mechanics.
There is a huge gender bias and it's worse depending on where you live. Deep south, might be worse. It's not right, but it's there and you'll probably not change it so you'll have to learn to work with it.
The bottom line is that you need to be knowledgable, and confident! (not cocky... there are plenty of cocky mechanics out there.) As a female, you will have to work harder to prove your abilities, but people will be open to letting you try. Probably because they think you'll fail, but you just have to prove them wrong. Once you've proven yourself, then you'll be known as "that girl mechanic" and you'll earn people's respect.
It takes time, but stick with it!!

Good luck!

Answer 2

The difficulty with women going into mechanics is not because it's too complicated. You could almost teach a monkey to do it. The difficulty is as you said, it's VERY dirty work. Used motor oil is a carcinogen. It penetrates the skin and leaves unsightly black stains that take weeks to come off. It's also painful. Your knuckles will take a beating from wrench slips in tight spaces. This will be made worse if the vehicle has been sitting outside on a freezing night. And your not allowed to complain. It takes a certain personality type to be a mechanic. A willingness to just take it day after day and give it back just as much. This often includes rudeness and belligerence.

Another reason women do not excel in diesel mechanics is that it requires considerable upper body strength. A genetically male trait. Women are less likely to use brute force to solve a problem and use their wits instead. Which is something mechanics don't usually need. Mechanic work is more about analytics and linear progression than creative thought.

Answer 3

I believe you are probably very good at what you do. If you come from a maintenace oreinted family you probably have way more skills than alot of guys that get out there on their own and try to fix things, trust me, I am a technician and I see alot of guys that don't know what is going on.
As for the shop, if a man walks in and you say you will be working on his truck, he may not trust you. It is a stereotype.
They will think you should be taking the money or just doing some kind of clerical work. WHY? 90% of women just know how to pump gas, Don't get me wrong, there are some that can do more than others, and you are one of few that is actually a mechanic. Also, it may hurt a mans ego if his vehicle is not working properly and he comes to a shop and you are there to fix it, and he is not smart enough to do so.
Anyways, for the business, I would probably let the nephew be the upfront man and when they come to get the vehicle, you step up and explain what was wrong and tell them how YOU fixed it and let them know, YOU know what you're doing.

Answer 4

When I took the ASVAB too I scored all the sections high. I worked on 5Tons, 2.5 Tons, LMTV and FMTV, HMMWV and of course the AH-1P/F, UH-1H, AH-64A, UH-60 and OH-58 and on my preffered bird the CH-47D which I am a FE on them. The mechanical part are not a gender specific. I have seen gals really good mechanics and bad ones too. Most of them seems to be on the low side of the scale. Apparently they do not like to get greasy. One of the best truck mechanics I ever seen was a gal, not by knowledge but by attitude.

Most of the good mechanics are male including chefs. I think is has to do with the men mentality of single tasking. Seems that the female side is multi tasking but gets overwhelmed easier, therefore not suited for these types of works. That could be stereotyping but is more of a human nature point of view.

Learn to manage your time, do not try to do all at once and pick your battles. Like what you think you can do 1st and 2nd and so on. Work systematic and logically. Girls have the tendency to do all at once and they get lost in the process.

If you want the respect work with a good attitude, do not under mind or over mind and all will be fine. A Miss Queenie does not fly well on my book. Do not try to impress people, let them talk 1st and pick from there. I had a Female AH-64 Test Pilot and seems that every time she had a chance has to rub it on you. That got on my nerves rather quickly.

Answer 5

The getting dirty part is why most people dont think a woman can be a mechanic. Being a mechanic is 85% mental these days because of the complexity of vehicle systems. The only way to make it today is to get all the training possible in the mechanic field and it doesn't matter about the gender of the person>

Answer 6

I worked at a shop for over 20 years and my boss's wife knew more than most customers but they always treated her like she knew nothing. She was always p1ssed off about that. You will face problems from some guys but you may just make a bundle by being able to cater to female customers who hate dealing with male mechanics.

The bottom line is that you will be judged on your work. Do the job right the first time and the guys will learn to respect you.

Answer 7

not as much bias as once was....have worked with several women mechanics and dated a woman who was a heavy duty mechanic for DOT in the state i was in.

there will always be a bit of cross looks, wondering about your errrrrrr.....preferences for a compainion....but...as far as shops go, gender discrimination is not only illegal but dumb. anyone can have knowledge and abilitys regardless of sex. the only down part would be the questions of " can she pick that up?" and " she's just a girly, she'll need help with everything". Thats the major misconeption in the industry. Trust me, male mechanics asked for help from the other "guys" just as frequently as the women who worked for me did.

get past the stereotypes and learn your craft. interview as a professional and believe me.....especially dealerships...will love to have a well trained technition (regardless of sex) working for them.

good luck to ya

Answer 8

Hey I feel ya! I do all the maintenance on my own vehicle (my daddy taught me) and people rag on me when I go into Auto Zone or w/e they treat me like I'm a little kid and I have no idea what I'm talking about but in all reality I know just as much if not more about cars than they do. I'd definitely let you work on my vehicles as long as you seem to know what you're doing it doesn't matter if you're black, white, male or female in my opinion.

Answer 9

i dont know why people think that way but women also think they know more than their husbands who work on cars or own shops like my mom my dad has been a mechanic for over 40 years yet she thinks she knows more than he does i admit she knows a lot but no where near as much as him nor could she fix it.

Answer 10

You will find some, but as time progresses, word of mouth will spread, and as long as you do the job, do it well, and do it well the first time, your customers will keep coming back.