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:-5 Why is it that women that ride are looked at as a lady of ill repute? I get so mad that people think a lady on a bike is wrong. I ride on my own when I have time and I ride as they call it b***h with my husband , I always get ugly looks or rude comments about my leathers, I am young and I like to look it so I am accused as being easy or cheap. The only ones that do not look down on it are the men that I ride with.:-5

Dixie

Hi Dixie It's because we're "programmed" that way by "respectable" ppl and by movies and magazines and books. If you see the early 60's biker movies, the biker "chicks, babes, bitches, etc" are dressed in a certain way (and act a certain way) to make us think they're "hard assed, cheap, and loose". And then we're taught that that's a bad way to be, (if you're a girl) because "men like to play with those kind of girls, but they DON'T marry them". It's all about programming.

I think it gives biker gals a bad wrap. Personally, I like seeing biker women in leathers. I think it's sexy.

I always felt sorry for those women who looked down on me. They lead boring little lives compared to the bikers who love nothing better than to go for a put on a sunny day through the woods either on their own bikes or wrapping their arms around the man they love and experiencing life with the breeze in their faces and the freedom of the road.

Unfortunately, most Bikers are looked at that way, not just women. We are misunderstood and in lots of cases, feared. It's a lasting misconception and a prejudice that I fight all the time.

I get those snarky, crappy looks as well, especially when in the coat and chaps. I get looks of out-and-out fear when I have my husband's colors on. (The patch the women wear, not HIS colors.) People have crossed aisles and alleyways to keep from being next to me. It's a stupid thing and I make a point to laugh at the morons who do it. That often scares them more but guess what??

I AIN'T GOIN' AWAY!!!!!

BabyRider. there's a question waiting to be asked! Could you explain the patches and the difference in what you wear compared to your husband? If I could find that other thread I'd ask there. Sorry for butting in here!



I think Rain is right about social programming and biker movies. I don't like to hear women called b*tches by themselves or others though. I think that sounds cheap, no disrespect to you, Dixie Angel, just explaining why I might frown my nose if I everheard that myself. I think bikers are fine...it's some of the people who are bikers who are not fine. Such as the couple who parked in my store parking lot and she was shirtless and he was applying sunscreen. They were laughing at us laughing at them. Little kids were pointing.



Then we have some rough ones who have been known to do some ...stuff...at a bar at a local casino during Biker Week. But we don't smear all bikers for the acts of a few. As I've said in another post, the ones who come around where I live are decent people for the most part, like anyone else.

i live in south georgia. bike week has gotten to be a real tradition to alot of people around here. business owners, presidents of banks and their wives, the upstanding of our community leather up and ride out every year to this event......it is becoming a really big deal to alot......oh yea, it's in daytona beach, florida

I think you are rolling two issues into one. The concept of peoples impressions of a female on the back of a motorcycle, or riding one, and reactions to styles of dress. There have always been those who abhor bikers and their bikes and there always will be. As far as clothing goes.. on a motorcycle or off. ...Often fashion choices are made to make a statement. And if that statement evokes feelings of fear, or agressiveness, or darkness, such clothing will receive the response it invited. I think that when a single person or couple rides down the road who are conservatively attired, nowdays.. they really do not draw any attention at all. People have always gawked at females dressed in revealing, or bold attire. That is why society is divided into groups. The old and the young. Conservative and liberal etc....

I think you will agree that reactions vary according to different areas of the country. In a bar in New York for example.... Motorcycle gang members can be shooting pool in the back, while businessmen in suits drink at the bar. No one pays much attention to anyone else. Let that same group of cyclists ride up to a tavern here, in sleepy, conservative Virginia and all heads would turn as if aliens had just landed.

RedGlitter;499318 wrote: ...I don't like to hear women called b*tches by themselves or others though. I think that sounds cheap, no disrespect to you, Dixie Angel, just explaining why I might frown my nose if I everheard that myself.


I think what Dixie was referring to, was that when someone rides on the back of the bike it's called "riding b***h" as opposed to people calling them "b***h*s"...sort of like "shotgun" in reference to a car.



But going back to what Rain was saying, society is rather unaccepting of anything new or "different"(quotes because it's not exactly different to whom does it, and to call it different would be insinuating that it is inferior -in my opinion)...

As I said before, theres a biker bar about 5 minutes from where I used to live(moved about a mile across the city last year) and I would hear about that place breaking out into chain fights etc, etc, but every time I have went in their the people were cool as he||...I think people like to exxagerate a little, and unfortunately, bikers are an easy target for them, because they refuse to give them a chance.

I thank all of you for the input on this forum, I agree with pinky I also gets funny looks from the teaches at the local school when I go to the Parent Teacher meetings, after they have seen me out on the bike. My daughters teacher also rides with us. The parents in her class have found out that she rides on the weekend and have tries to have there children taken out of her class bacause of this. There are several parents that are fighting wiht us to make sure she has a job next year, due to the fact that we live in a very consertive rural area. Dixie

dixie_angel_26;499746 wrote: I thank all of you for the input on this forum, I agree with pinky I also gets funny looks from the teaches at the local school when I go to the Parent Teacher meetings, after they have seen me out on the bike. My daughters teacher also rides with us. The parents in her class have found out that she rides on the weekend and have tries to have there children taken out of her class bacause of this. There are several parents that are fighting wiht us to make sure she has a job next year, due to the fact that we live in a very consertive rural area. Dixie


:wah:

Because she prefers two wheels instead of four? (Rhetorical)

Little presumptuous don't ya think?

K.Snyder;499649 wrote: I think what Dixie was referring to, was that when someone rides on the back of the bike it's called "riding b***h" as opposed to people calling them "b***h*s"...sort of like "shotgun" in reference to a car.






Right K, but if it's called a b*tch pad who's it made for? The woman. :-3

dixie_angel_26;499746 wrote: I thank all of you for the input on this forum, I agree with pinky I also gets funny looks from the teaches at the local school when I go to the Parent Teacher meetings, after they have seen me out on the bike. My daughters teacher also rides with us. The parents in her class have found out that she rides on the weekend and have tries to have there children taken out of her class bacause of this. There are several parents that are fighting wiht us to make sure she has a job next year, due to the fact that we live in a very consertive rural area. Dixie


That is so extreme and silly, in my opinion. Good grief. I suppose a teacher with a tattoo would be ousted too? Silly!

RedGlitter;499751 wrote: Right K, but if it's called a b*tch pad who's it made for? The woman. :-3




Well I understand...using the word b*tch isn't exactly a class act.

I really like Chicks who ride. Of course I like just about every position.

RedGlitter;499318 wrote: BabyRider. there's a question waiting to be asked! Could you explain the patches and the difference in what you wear compared to your husband? If I could find that other thread I'd ask there. Sorry for butting in here!


Im familiar with her Old Man's club, and while I would never speak for her, him, or his club, this is a generally known thing you are asking about. He belongs to a Motorcycle Club. The man only recieves his Colors after doing the usual hangaround thing, prospecting for a period of time, if asked, and then being voted in, if the Prospect is deemed worthy of membership. This is generally how a man earns his patch in a traditional M/C. It is not bought, but hard earned. The Club is a "man's club" meaning women cannot be patched members. There are various ways that the member's wife or "significant other" might end up wearing a patch on the back of the vest. This patch is usually different than the club patch that her OM flies and either designates her as "Property Of" (it doesnt mean what it says literally, so please dont send nasty notes) or will be some variation based on the theme of the clubs colors. This patch in no way signifies her as a member. She hasnt earned anything in the club. The patch she wears is linked directly to the member who earned his colors and sees fit to put a patch on his lady. He is responsible for her conduct while wearing it, is responsible for making her understand what it means to wear it, and he, not her, will answer for any misconduct she engages in while wearing it that reflects poorly on the club. What it does is show that she supports her man and his club. Women who do this and carry themselves in a manner that reflects well on the club, will find they are afforded a great deal of respect by the club's members. The other purpose of the patch, or "Ol' ladies Rockers" as we called them in my former club, is that they serve as a "Back off!" sign. This generally means that if you hit on her, screw with her, or hassle her, you will be dealing with any and all members of the club. She is the OL of a member and will be protected and defended with extreme prejudice...She is one of ours. This is an excellent deterrent to some of the idiots out there that might otherwise cause problems.

Hope this helps...there will be variations of this as all Clubs are different, but this is a good general rule of thumb within M/C culture.

Spike I like your explination of this it does work as a deturant of problems, especally with me workingin a bar. It tells everyone that its best to leave me alone. Or its not just my ol man its all of them.

dixie_angel_26;499792 wrote: Spike I like your explination of this it does work as a deturant of problems, especally with me workingin a bar. It tells everyone that its best to leave me alone. Or its not just my ol man its all of them.


That's also the basis of the "Property of" patch that many PH's OL's wear in certain M/C's. It's very misunderstood and some folks take it literally as that they are property of the club and/or member which offends them. In most cases, it simply means back off, she is part of our "family" and will be defended by her "family".

Spike, thank you for your very helpful answer!

Page 5 - (Ask a biker) may go some way as to help answer this question as well.