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| If You Enjoy One Or More Of The Following: |
| YO' MAMMA! |
| RESPECT |
| STRONG SENSIBILITY |
| FANTASTIC FEMALES |
| DASHING DAMES |
| SASSY SISTERS |
| LOVELY LADIES |
| MAGICAL MISTRESSES |
| KICK-ASS CHICKS |
| WISDOM OF AGES |
| Click The Links
And Read This 'Zine! |
| Girls Rule!!! | |
| Especially The Ones fIXING your Broke-Ass Wheels… | |
| Interviewed By WINK Staff | |
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Laura Campbell
(let's call her Sunny) knows her
way around a garage as well as any man. Not only does she have the
know-how to fix a busted-up Harley, she knows how to do it without
letting any fragile male egos get in her way, and with a smile all
the while (hence the nickname). At lefty: Sunny on vacation, somewhere a little more tropical than eastern PA. |
| WINK:
Have you ever had a job which was generally considered a man’s
job, or where you had to compete with men? SUNNY: Yes, I worked as a motorcycle mechanic/builder for 3 years. Before that, I went to Northampton Community College and studied Automotive Technology. I worked at a couple shops doing routine maintenance on vehicles before I got the job at McKeever Custom Choppers. WINK: What about your work environment makes it a challenge for women? SUNNY: As women we are still expected to do womanly things and have womanly jobs. Being a mechanic is a "man’s job" hands down. It’s dirty, requires physical labor, and the knowledge of tools. A man is supposedly born with the skills to do the job of a mechanic, and they say a woman is born with the skills to be a house wife or secretary. The reason being a mechanic is a difficult environment for a woman is that men don’t expect it from us, so we have to prove ourselves with the skills required for the job. |
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| WINK:
How has your role in the workplace had lasting effects on your personality? SUNNY: I think it’s given me a lasting self-esteem boost and made me stronger. I’m not afraid to do anything because if I can be a mechanic in a man’s world, especially a Harley mechanic, I can do anything. WINK: What do you consider to be your five most essential characteristics for being successful in your career field? SUNNY: Self-Esteem, Personality, Knowledge, Strength, and a Sense of Humor |
 Above: A San Luis Obispo Girl Scout Troop earns their automotive repair badge at a local auto repair shop in 2010. YES!!! DIY Cars, not cookies!!!!!! |
| WINK:
Do you have any advice for dealing with injustices or inequalities
within the workplace to give a young woman who is about to enter your
field or one like it? SUNNY: Do not let yourself be disrespected, but don’t be too sensitive. These types of jobs require a sense of humor because the guys like to pick on you. It’s kind of like being in grade school all over again. WINK: Do you have any “defense mechanisms” against sexual objectification you’d like to share? SUNNY: We all have defense mechanisms. I usually just ignored them. If one of the customers were getting obnoxious I would either use my sense of humor or make them feel like an ass. You’ll find it’s hard to gross out a man when you’re doing a man’s job. Even passing gas won’t deter them. WINK: To what degree have you had to go above and beyond a male in order to succeed in your career/workplace? SUNNY: I've had to prove myself many times in this field. When I was working on cars I had a hard time with my supervisor. He would only give me the bare minimum of work to do. So, one day I took a job off the other mechanics (“job hook”), and did the job. It was just an alignment, but when I was done it was perfect. My supervisor asked who did it and I said “me” and all he had to say was “okay”. Not a “thanks” or a “good job”, just “okay”. After that he started giving me more work. |
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 "Since the 1980s, the number of women in motorcycling has increased greatly. More clubs exist than ever before, organizing events and providing camaraderie. Female riders continue to find inspiration in their motorcycles, the open road, and each other." —From the Harley-Davidson Website, regarding their "WOMEN AT THE HANDLEBARS" Exhibit |
"As a society we have grown in wonderful ways. Honorable woman have fought for our rights and we have received the respect and equality we deserve. Though we have come a long way, women in this day still have issues in the workplace. Men receive higher wages than women in executive jobs, and most managers are still men. We, as women, need to remember to always stand up for what we believe in and for our rights in this world." |
WINK:
Do you have any other funny stories to share related to the topic?
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