Why is it that I am considered "just a girl" by the auto parts people?
I read a blog today about being treated rudely by customer service personnel because they are a female that has chosen to stay at home with their children. This reminded me of how I get treated most times I go to an auto part store or junkyard to locate parts to fix a car.
Since my mechanic father was lucky enough to be blessed with three daughters instead of sons, we all know the basics of car maintenance like tire rotations and oil changes. A couple of us were even ambitious enough to learn more involved car repairs like replacing the exhaust from the manifold back, and how to change brakes. I have chosen to add more things to what I can do, just because I actually like the work, and still like learning about things.
At the parts store I usually get the question of "Who is going to install this for you?", as if I am unable to install the parts myself. Its even better when I have arrived covered in grease from the car with the part to be replaced in hand. It is obvious from my physical appearance I was the one that removed the part to begin with.
The junkyard is even better. I arrive with the needed tools in hand, request the location of the vehicle on the lot and then I am asked about what issues I am having with the vehicle in question. I still have not been told where to locate the vehicles I am looking for, but I get a rundown of the possible things that are wrong with the vehicle. Each new possibility includes whether or not I have tried that particular thing to see if that is it. After they confirm that I have done what they would do to make sure I really need the part I came for in the first place, they then explain to me how to locate and remove the part I am looking for, as if I arrived not having a clue about what I am doing. Sometimes I even get a staff escort to come help me locate the part.
Never once, in all my years of going with my dad and grandfather to the junkyard or parts store, were they ever questioned about what they were looking for, nor did they have to explain how they came to the conclusion of needing that part. I have been along on a few parts store/junkyard runs where the part we went for was not the part that was needed. I never thought less of them for trying these parts and pieces out, it is just something that helps with troubleshooting the issue and brings us closer to fixing the car.
Oh well, there was a reason I didn't go to school to be a mechanic. To be honest, it was the fact that I was not respected enough to be listened to when I walked into an automotive place and my opinion of the situation did not matter, that changed my mind. It was confirmed when talking to owner/operators of auto repair places about how females don't last long because of the alienation that happens on the floor and even from male customers when they see it is a female working on their car.
Someday I may just open an all female mechanic shop, but that would be discriminatory. Can't win them all.
I will say this, once I become a "regular" to the parts store or junkyard, I get the parts no questioned asked. That makes me happy that I am accepted, if it is only as "one of the guys".
Since my mechanic father was lucky enough to be blessed with three daughters instead of sons, we all know the basics of car maintenance like tire rotations and oil changes. A couple of us were even ambitious enough to learn more involved car repairs like replacing the exhaust from the manifold back, and how to change brakes. I have chosen to add more things to what I can do, just because I actually like the work, and still like learning about things.
At the parts store I usually get the question of "Who is going to install this for you?", as if I am unable to install the parts myself. Its even better when I have arrived covered in grease from the car with the part to be replaced in hand. It is obvious from my physical appearance I was the one that removed the part to begin with.
The junkyard is even better. I arrive with the needed tools in hand, request the location of the vehicle on the lot and then I am asked about what issues I am having with the vehicle in question. I still have not been told where to locate the vehicles I am looking for, but I get a rundown of the possible things that are wrong with the vehicle. Each new possibility includes whether or not I have tried that particular thing to see if that is it. After they confirm that I have done what they would do to make sure I really need the part I came for in the first place, they then explain to me how to locate and remove the part I am looking for, as if I arrived not having a clue about what I am doing. Sometimes I even get a staff escort to come help me locate the part.
Never once, in all my years of going with my dad and grandfather to the junkyard or parts store, were they ever questioned about what they were looking for, nor did they have to explain how they came to the conclusion of needing that part. I have been along on a few parts store/junkyard runs where the part we went for was not the part that was needed. I never thought less of them for trying these parts and pieces out, it is just something that helps with troubleshooting the issue and brings us closer to fixing the car.
Oh well, there was a reason I didn't go to school to be a mechanic. To be honest, it was the fact that I was not respected enough to be listened to when I walked into an automotive place and my opinion of the situation did not matter, that changed my mind. It was confirmed when talking to owner/operators of auto repair places about how females don't last long because of the alienation that happens on the floor and even from male customers when they see it is a female working on their car.
Someday I may just open an all female mechanic shop, but that would be discriminatory. Can't win them all.
I will say this, once I become a "regular" to the parts store or junkyard, I get the parts no questioned asked. That makes me happy that I am accepted, if it is only as "one of the guys".
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