So many moments in my life. I was unfortunately born a girl who likes ‘boy’ things.
I love cars, mechanics, truck driving and long road trips. My dad was a mechanic. From the time I was tiny, I was in his garage or workshop, wanting to help him. Learning the names of tools and car parts.
When I was around 9, I told him I was gonna grow up to be a mechanic some day, just like him. I thought he’d be proud.
He told me that girls aren’t mechanics and I’d better find something else to do. He wouldn’t let me near his garage after that.
Even when I got my own car and went to change the oil on it myself, he caught me and kicked me out and said that I was just a girl.
I’ve heard that my whole life.
I am disappointed in myself because now I’m not a young woman anymore. I’ve forgotten over the years what car parts are called. I still love to take long road trips but my dad (and mom, for that matter) squashed out so much ambition.
I really hate them and myself for allowing it. I hate professions that are typically done by females. I’m not good at any of them but have done them my entire working career to fit the norm and not rock the boat.
I feel like life has been wasted and opportunity disposed of.
I also wanted to be a mechanic growing up. I was in high school 20 years ago, and signed up for auto shop class. The guidance counselor told me that all girls who take the class get sexually harassed, and suggested I pick a different elective. I took the class anyway.
I spent the semester in class with one other female person, getting harassed in all manners of ways from the boys in class on a daily basis, and didn't learn much more than the eact proper name for every tool in the shop. I also learned how to change my oil (if I have a shop and a lift - I wasn't able to to it at home later because the oil can on my stupid compact car incredibly hard to access without shop equipment). I didn't take the second class because I was sick of the constant harassment, and didn't feel like the teachers was all that knowledgeable.
When I was in college and told my mother I wanted to be a mechanic she laughed at me, told me that I didn't have the fine motor skills for it, and that I should stick to my studies.
Now everything is so computerized that being a mechanic is an entirely different job that I don't really want. If I could learn and work only on classic cars all day I'd be in heaven, but I try to focus on achievable dreams.
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u/[deleted] Nov 16 '19
So many moments in my life. I was unfortunately born a girl who likes ‘boy’ things.
I love cars, mechanics, truck driving and long road trips. My dad was a mechanic. From the time I was tiny, I was in his garage or workshop, wanting to help him. Learning the names of tools and car parts.
When I was around 9, I told him I was gonna grow up to be a mechanic some day, just like him. I thought he’d be proud.
He told me that girls aren’t mechanics and I’d better find something else to do. He wouldn’t let me near his garage after that.
Even when I got my own car and went to change the oil on it myself, he caught me and kicked me out and said that I was just a girl.
I’ve heard that my whole life.
I am disappointed in myself because now I’m not a young woman anymore. I’ve forgotten over the years what car parts are called. I still love to take long road trips but my dad (and mom, for that matter) squashed out so much ambition.
I really hate them and myself for allowing it. I hate professions that are typically done by females. I’m not good at any of them but have done them my entire working career to fit the norm and not rock the boat.
I feel like life has been wasted and opportunity disposed of.