Hi everyone!
Sorry I haven't been able to write as much as I wanted to, but this is too important to not share!
Preliminary
So, I have this new Jeep Renegade since December. It had trouble with the software somewhere in February, nothing too weird, garage fixed it quite fast. A few weeks back I got a letter that they've detected a software issue in all the new Renegade models, so there was an update available that I had to get done. So far, so good. I made the appointment and last Tuesday they did the update. When I drove back home (it's about 30 km), the Start/stop system didn't work. On Wednesday it still didn't work, so I called them. They told me that it could happen that it took a few DAYS to get settled. I didn't really believe it, but okay. Since Thursday and Friday were national holiday, I couldn't call them back before this morning. I drove about 500 km in those 5 days, so normally at least once the start/stop should've worked, but nothing. This morning I called, they say there might be a problem. 'Oh really??' was my first thought. The guy who does the software stuff was only going to be there until 4... I work from 7:45AM until 4:20PM normally, so I had to take half a day off to go there. It's an hour drive from my work to there, so...
If I were a boy
I got there at 3, so in time. I explained the problem again, told them I'd already called twice.
First question these guys ask me: was the system activated? I mean SERIOUSLY????? I don't think you'd have asked me that if I were a guy! Second: did you change air conditioning settings? No and again, if I were a boy, you wouldn't dare asking me that question. Third: were your lights on? I always have them on the automatic, so not the whole time. And really? It doesn't work when the lights are on??? If I were a boy, I don't think I would've been nice still.
Then they tried it. 'No, it's not working' Well, you don't say...
Humiliation
I don't think I've ever been so humiliated in my entire life. Just because I'm a woman, they thought they could just fix it in 5 minutes, because they thought it was probably something I didn't do right. Both with grins on their faces, that,if I were a boy, I would've punched right off! Steam was coming out of my ears by then. I know they don't know me, but by everything I explained to them I had already tried, they should've known that I know a little more about cars than the average girl. Not that I think any woman should be treated this way, because they were just plane rude. Instead of just trying to fix it, they laughed and told me to come back next week... Sure, I have nothing else to do. I don't have job to pay for rent and food!
Feminism
I don't think of myself as a feminist, because I think it's an ugly word, but maybe it's still not what it's supposed to be in this world: equality. We're all born the same way: our moms give birth to us. No one comes in to this world differently. Wether you're a boy or a girl, you are born that way and no other. You are unique, but we are all the same; we're the same species, we're all equal. It shouldn't matter in the way we treat others, if it is a boy or a girl. It doesn't to me anyway, but apparently to some it still does. I know in the world of garage men, they ought to be tough and cool and stuff, but still they should treat their customer right. No one would've appreciated the way they talked to me with their idiotic grins on their faces.
I hope one day, probably in a faraway future, we will all be able to get along without any exception in race, culture, colour, sex, religion, ... The world would be a better place. People can dream, can't they?
Sorry I haven't been able to write as much as I wanted to, but this is too important to not share!
Preliminary
So, I have this new Jeep Renegade since December. It had trouble with the software somewhere in February, nothing too weird, garage fixed it quite fast. A few weeks back I got a letter that they've detected a software issue in all the new Renegade models, so there was an update available that I had to get done. So far, so good. I made the appointment and last Tuesday they did the update. When I drove back home (it's about 30 km), the Start/stop system didn't work. On Wednesday it still didn't work, so I called them. They told me that it could happen that it took a few DAYS to get settled. I didn't really believe it, but okay. Since Thursday and Friday were national holiday, I couldn't call them back before this morning. I drove about 500 km in those 5 days, so normally at least once the start/stop should've worked, but nothing. This morning I called, they say there might be a problem. 'Oh really??' was my first thought. The guy who does the software stuff was only going to be there until 4... I work from 7:45AM until 4:20PM normally, so I had to take half a day off to go there. It's an hour drive from my work to there, so...
If I were a boy
I got there at 3, so in time. I explained the problem again, told them I'd already called twice.
First question these guys ask me: was the system activated? I mean SERIOUSLY????? I don't think you'd have asked me that if I were a guy! Second: did you change air conditioning settings? No and again, if I were a boy, you wouldn't dare asking me that question. Third: were your lights on? I always have them on the automatic, so not the whole time. And really? It doesn't work when the lights are on??? If I were a boy, I don't think I would've been nice still.
Then they tried it. 'No, it's not working' Well, you don't say...
Humiliation
I don't think I've ever been so humiliated in my entire life. Just because I'm a woman, they thought they could just fix it in 5 minutes, because they thought it was probably something I didn't do right. Both with grins on their faces, that,if I were a boy, I would've punched right off! Steam was coming out of my ears by then. I know they don't know me, but by everything I explained to them I had already tried, they should've known that I know a little more about cars than the average girl. Not that I think any woman should be treated this way, because they were just plane rude. Instead of just trying to fix it, they laughed and told me to come back next week... Sure, I have nothing else to do. I don't have job to pay for rent and food!
Feminism
I don't think of myself as a feminist, because I think it's an ugly word, but maybe it's still not what it's supposed to be in this world: equality. We're all born the same way: our moms give birth to us. No one comes in to this world differently. Wether you're a boy or a girl, you are born that way and no other. You are unique, but we are all the same; we're the same species, we're all equal. It shouldn't matter in the way we treat others, if it is a boy or a girl. It doesn't to me anyway, but apparently to some it still does. I know in the world of garage men, they ought to be tough and cool and stuff, but still they should treat their customer right. No one would've appreciated the way they talked to me with their idiotic grins on their faces.
I hope one day, probably in a faraway future, we will all be able to get along without any exception in race, culture, colour, sex, religion, ... The world would be a better place. People can dream, can't they?
Beyoncé - If I were a boy (on YouTube)
