How many guys reading this can remember attending a crowded event with a woman and having to wait outside a ladies’ restroom for her because the line was so long? Have you ever thought of the woman’s perspective? With my warped sense of humor, I commonly note that the lines in the women’s restrooms at industry events, such as AAIA conferences, Auto Mechanika, SEMA and the AAPEX show, are virtually nonexistent. On a serious note: Why is that?

Most of the folks I’ve met during my 15-year involvement in the aftermarket and collision industries are baby boomers. We have witnessed and participated in major social changes in our country and around the world.

Personally, my family gave me culturally acceptable advice about professional opportunities while growing up. I was told that I could consider the following career paths: nurse (I hate blood); secretary (I was a lousy typist — and didn’t want an “office” job); or teacher (too tame, I thought). I considered go-go dancing and becoming a stewardess as options. Each seemed to offer a little excitement and both were somewhat exotic in nature.

Unfortunately, being under the 5-foot 2-inch tall requirement in those days disqualified me for the latter. As for the go-go dancer option — it took more guts than I had at the time. Regardless, I was not willing to accept limited options.

In contrast, today’s young ladies are taught that they can achieve whatever they want. Their options are not limited by society. The aftermarket industry is one that has opened doors, as illustrated by AAIA President Kathleen Schmatz. However, Schmatz illustrates the exception, rather than the rule. It takes time for society — and industry — to evolve. Additionally, the challenges in “making it” in predominantly male-dominated professions are formidable.

Sometimes, because of cultural training, whether it be the male or female influences, it is more difficult for women to “fit in” certain professions. While positive advances are continuously being made, getting beyond the “boys’ club” takes a lot of energy for a woman — often more than the professional abilities necessary to get a job done.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why it is challenging for women to integrate into male professions. What is certain, however, is that women need mentors and coaches to help them navigate the waters — especially if they want to participate at the leadership level. These mentors can be other women who have managed to overcome the hurdles or men who see the value in facilitating a potential top performer — whether the person be male or female.

What about those of us already here? Many of today’s successful women in our industry owe thanks to their husbands, fathers and brothers for helping them break into the business. Today, more and more women who did not come to the industry through family ties must figure out how to acclimate.

Ironically, women involved and successful in our industry are often overlooked as owners, leaders and decision makers.

We are occasionally snickered at because we demand the respect and consideration we deserve at trade shows, the bar, or when passing by the still-present girlie calendars in the back. We miss out on deals made on the golf course or during a guys’ night out. These comments are not meant as complaints, but realities. Everyone has challenges they must overcome. This is our reality.

Women are often cited as nurturing, patient, attentive to detail, able to multi-task and management oriented. These traits have been adopted as cultural necessities while American society, and families, dramatically changed over the past 50 years. These traits have proven attractive to businesses that need to deal with tough employee and customer issues, while juggling multiple tasks. 

Over the years I’ve discussed this topic with a few dozen women in this industry, often in that relatively empty women’s room. Every aftermarket industry businesswoman I’ve spoken to is in agreement: As a female, it’s tough to join the boys’ club.

Parts retailers, jobbers, counterpeople, technicians and those on the service side can be invaluable mentors to women attempting to enter and flourish in our industry.

Whether you are male or female, it’s always nice to be invited to play and to be recognized for a job well done. With regard to the latter, AKZO Nobel deserves kudos. To a woman, every recipient awarded Most Influential Women (MIW) in the industry status with whom I’ve spoken has been deeply touched and honored by AKZO’s gesture.

Add to that AKZO’s contributions to foster female participation in the industry with scholarships in honor of MIW recipients, and the gratification of achieving MIW status is great, indeed. It is a sense of having arrived, being on a team and being appreciated.

We all know that our industry is changing rapidly. In my humble opinion, helping women succeed will raise the bar for the entire industry. So, if you are a woman, seek out a coach or mentor that you can look to for advice and direction. And if you are a man, imagine our industry 10 or 20 years from now, both with and without women. If you think that more women filling a variety of jobs will make our industry better, lend a hand.

But please remember, sometimes the mentoring and coaching we need is a little different from what you offer to the new guy who played on the high school football team.

Oh, and ladies, look forward to the day you attend an industry event and have to wait in line at the restroom.