How many of you out there are educated on how to fix a flat tire, change your own oil, fix part of your engine, replace your radiator? I know how to work on older cars, and when I would go to the shop to get parts, guys would always ask me if there is some man helping me and act like a complete fucking idiot, when I am the one that tells them where my damn fuel filter is on my car, yet they still look it up and then tell me., and its exactly where i said! TO the women that can fix cars, more power to you, cus we dont get the credit we deserve! Its like, go home and make a pie, while the men work on the car for you. you dont want to get your hands dirty.
yep, I can do all of that and more. I can change the concaves on a combine. I can change the treads on a Catipilar tractor. I can operate most farm machinery. I can spot weld. I lived on a farm.
Good on you car fixing women. It tends to bother me when women have that "dear me what do I do" take on changing a tire as does those men with the "let me give you a hand with that little missy" attitude. Our girls just starting to drive and we are making sure they at least have a clue. No I know we all can't be mechanics, but a little common sense and basic mechanical knowlege go a long way. And BTW I too can go home and bake a pie.
I know a lot of women who can do the work of a "guy"...like fixing a car, as an easy example and than they still kick ass in so many ways that they are "supposed to" as well...More power to you!
I've been slowly learning how to repair and take care of my car. Just a couple weeks ago, I learned how to change my oil for the first time, and my goal is to continue to learn how to do more and more. It is very empowering.
I know nothing about cars I am ashamed of this fact. I have wanted to learn for years, but health has not allowed me to do the physical work involved anyway. How would one go about learning this stuff if they don't know anyone willing to teach them?
I know nothing about cars. I got the guy at autozone to put oil in my car for me. Oh yeah, I am not ashamed. I've had many flat tires and give thanks to all the men in my life who have changed them. Bless their hearts for saving my manicure and sanity.
no clue but then, i dont drive, i bike or use the bus to get everywhere. when i get my drivers license and am driving regularly, ill worry about learning it then... starting with how to change a tired and my oil of course if nothing else my bfs family is filled with car nuts
With my car being a VW it is very easy to check the oil and my mother made sure that the first thing I knew how to do was change the tire. So yes, I can.
I don't know much about cars cuz I don't really care as much as most people. I know how to put oil in my car and change my tire for the most part so thats good for me. But yeah I've definitely heard about men at car places totally ignoring you if you're a woman and charging you way more... lame
A lot of colleges offer basic car maintenance courses. Maybe one in your area offers one? Because I can do a lot of "handy" things, it really bothers me when mechanics write me off as a twit because I have a vagina. Many times I have taken my car in to get fixed and have told the mechanics what is wrong with me car. For example "My car needs a new alternator belt. Please make sure you tighten it REALLY tightly as Geo's have a tendancy to eat belts if they are not super tight." To which I get rolled eyes and "sure thing, Miss." A week later I am calling a tow truck because my car has eatten the new belt and died in traffic. Grrr! Now that I am living in my home town again I haven't had this problem, as the people fixing my car realize that I do know what I am talking about.
i havent a clu bout cars but then again I don't drive so its never really come up - i do know about computers etc so im not completly useless
More Norman Vo Tech had powder puff (grrr) mechanics classes as part of their adult ed. I'd wager OKCCC might offer similar classes (not as pricey as credit classes) are you and your sweetie attending a church at this time? If you are, see what some of the members might know. Put a notice on the bulletin board at the Earth.
and as for the "macho" stuff I do, I schlep and set up sound gear, fix minor to medium plumbing problems, and some electronics repair. Had a bad experience at a Home Depot where Virgil in Plumbing refused to help me out (I had never bothered to change from a metal part to a PVC part, and wondered if the point of the trap I was replacing needed another PVC part. my question would have simply been "do I need this other part in PVC as well to make a decent seal or is there simply a washer that I'm not finding?" Virgil looked at me, gestured to a guy who came up after I did and said "he was here first." OK, fine. He was in a chair.... Virgil helps him and leaves the aisle, and I hear him say "How can I help YOU, sir?" Out of curiosity, I stayed in the aisle (hey, HD is air conditioned) 20 minutes pass, he helps three other men, no women. I grab the single replacement part and head home. I DID need the next piece of pipe to be pvc for a decent seal. Sent my sweetie back and he was helped in two minutes. I filed an official complaint.
i'm so awful at all things mechanical that it finally reached the point in our house that i was not allowed to touch anything with moving parts except in the most basic way, like to drive the car. *sigh* i don't mind so much, though, i have other talents and skills that they don't have. however, my baby sister is a total badass. she's a heavy equipment operator, she renovates houses and works as a longshoreman in the port of LA. not bad for a 5'3" 110 lb blonde. my mother's pretty damned handy, too. it's not their fault or lack of trying to teach me that kept me from knowing my ass from my elbow.
