Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputations … can never effect a reform. – Susan B. Anthony

The American Westward expansion of the 1800′s created both romantic imagery and tragedy as the clash of cultures changed the landscape west of the Mississippi River. When we think “Clash of Culture” we most often think of race, yet aren’t women truly the last minority?  More often than not, Women spend much more effort fighting amongst themselves which has effectively prolonged the advancement of all women .

Notable Women of the Wild West in historic lore are most likely defined into categories of either being good girls or bad girls based on virtue, with disregard to any other substance of character. This is very much the same for Women Truckers.  The general thought process being “if something bad happens it’s because they were born with the non preferred genitalia and therefore deserve it for being in a man’s environment.”

The desire to be free and independent has never been exclusive to men. Women rights have always come last in our history. For instance, the right to vote in the United States was won by women after African-American Males who were granted the right in the 1870′s with the 15th Ammendment . Women’s Sufferage did not occur until 1920 despite early victories for western women to vote in Utah. The results of their votes appear to have been geared less towards the empowerment of women but instead to impact the desires of the male population.

Passage of voting rights did not ensure enforcement for African-Americans or women.  Intimidation & Retaliation remained a hinderence including Jim Crow Laws aimed at African-Americans. These things were not effectively addressed until the Civil Rights rights movement. The National Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed the requirement that would-be voters in the United States take literacy tests. Sadly, intimidation in rural areas to discourage voting still occurs in the United States of America.

Women in the Old West were unable to legally own land and were rarely noticed for their contributions.  Often it was necessary to disguise themselves as men to remain living on their homesteads after their husbands had passed away. The reality for women who held the same dreams as men for freedom meant concealing their gender as a matter of personal safety for themselves and their property.

Charley Parkhurst was an American Stagecoach driver in the 1860′s , known as “One Eyed Charley” he was known to be a fierce driver, hard drinker and not shy to use his gun. The legendary stagecoach driver is believed to have been born in 1812 in New Hampshire.

Charley was a natural as a stagecoach driver, orphaned at a young age he learned his way around horses early in life while working as a stablehand. He had the ability to handle a weapon with confidence while running a 6 horse team through a gauntlet of terrain. His job required the courage to face potential thieves who might hijack his precious cargo.

A kick from a horse had left a damaging scar and lost eye, which is how the hard cussing Parkhurst came to be known as, “One-Eyed Charley”.  In 1879, Charley died from cancer of the tongue.  Only at the time of his passing when Charley’s body was being prepared for the undertaker was it revealed that “he” was actually a Woman .

Charlotte Parkhurst concealed her physical sex for most of her life. In an article called “She was a Man!” by Floyd D.P. Øydegaard , the final sentence is declares “…Whatever her reasons, she chose not to be a woman and did a great job at being a human being, who just wanted to be left alone.”

There is speculation that Charley “Charlotte” may have been the first Woman to Vote in a United States Presidential Election but it seems unlikely it was her intent to be known as a feminist.  She simply wanted to be permitted to live her life and be noted for her good work, aside from her gender.

A young girl, an orphan for that matter could not travel alone but a young boy could and Charlotte was keenly aware of this truth. She was handy around horses, not around the kitchen and had no desire to aquire those skills. Would that make her bad or unacceptable to other women of the time?  What about to Men?  Would she become a target?

There are countless stories of women living as men in order to experience the same freedom and independance afforded to the opposite gender.  Sex without consent is certainly a factor in any male dominated isolated environment.  A young girl from a hard childhood might learn lessons early regarding potential dangers, such as,  how to avert “situations” where they might be caught off guard not only by a stranger but someone they know very well.

Another aspect would be intimidation where the ego of a bully is temporarily satisfied by attempts to humiliate another person who is visually percieved as weak or small.  Charley, wore layers of clothing, obviously to hide her body but also to make her look more manly.  This rough exterior would insulate her from those who sought to bully others based on appearence and size.

The fact that Charley was a orphan may have provided an element of street smarts that someone from a sheltered childhood may not understand.  A young girl, just as handy around horses but NOT exposed to real world experiences might find themselves in a very different set of circumstances.  A lone person, esspecially one with little family could find themselves being victimized without warning in an isolated environment such as the old west, or trucking.

Charley’s desire was clearly to be noted for achievements NOT gender.  This desire cannot be extinguished in a determined individual.  Charley established a reputation and an ability to do a job most others would not or could not do.  Set apart the time in history and the legal ramifications and consider this:  If Charley’s gender had become widely known while alive would the job performance be less significant? Absolutley YES!

Would it not be true that Charley would become target of curiousity and perhaps a target for violence?  Definately!

Charley left the orphanage for whatever reasons and began dressing as a boy at around 12 years old.  In 1855 there are reports of a child which died at birth.  This would have placed Charley in her 40′s which would not be a safe planned pregnancy, esspecially for that period of time.  What sort of support system would Charley have?  What sort of woman was Charley?  How would she be judged by the other women of her day?

The first Women who generally followed the men into the frontier are generally capitalists. The “Soiled Doves” or “Painted Ladies” who are frequently associated with the American West followed the money trail.  Where there are Men… there is money! AND easy opportunities for Pimps, Madams, Prostitutes, Saloon Girls, and so on. Whatever market potential can be built around a lonley man is soon to follow any new frontier.

Sex was sex in the Old West where men dominated the population; it was not uncommon for Cowboys to share a bedroll.  Homosexuality was more common than most would want to know about.

Patricia Nell Warren, a historian and author, said that same-sex relationships between cowboys were often tolerated in the early days of the West largely because manpower was scarce, thus making it impractical for landowners to be choosy about whom they hired. But attitudes changed with the introduction of mechanized agriculture, which rendered human labor more expendable. “Tolerance went away after that,” she said

Calamity Jane might have been considered a Feminist of sorts in her time, not as a change agent but living alongside in a male dominated environment & holding her own. Calamity Jane – Pony Express Rider, heavy drinker, heart of gold. We tend to over shadow extrodinary achievements and courage of complex women if we cannot easily define them as either “Good Girls or Bad Girls.  Jane, dressed as a man , lived in a man’s world and loved the man Wild Bill Hickock enough to ask to be buried next to him upon her death.  She cussed, drank too much but, during the smallpox epidemic nursed many children with tenderness.

Taming the wild frontier is in part because of the introduction of women.  The Mormon Trail and the railroad brought change to the west.  The pioneers forged a path and allowed for a more civilized western experience.  Law and Order began to spring up as men began bringing their Wives who expected more than tents & saloons.  Street pollution from Animal feces, Chamber Pots of Urine & Garbage were not acceptable. Sidewalks were built; Schools, Churches, Opere houses gave rise to a higher level of comfort and entertainment.

Gun Controls were not unheard of in the city limits of western towns.  There was also a clash with those “Other” Women , who either by choice or circumstance did not have husbands, but existed in this environment.

Tolerance is perhaps the biggest hold up of all cultures to evolve , this is esspecially true for Women who seek to judge each other,  whereas they readily give acceptance to men who live lifestyles they may not fully understand or accept.  Women effectively destroy Women’s Rights by acting as Judge and Jury to any other Women who may have goals & ideas on living which differer from their own.

While some Men embraced the comfort of a home in the old west the trade off was losing the freedom to do whatever it was they were doing before.  The evolving Old West began to have rules that previously did not exist.  Law enforcement , temperance movements were intended to curb behavior.  Perhaps not so much different as today & it appears we will never eradicate the vices of humanity.  Women who compel themselves to see other women as the cause of such shortcomings become nothing more than enablers.

Trucking is very much like the old west.  There are few witnesses to the freedom that is the trucking lifestyle where rules can be broken.  The resistance toward women entering trucking initially might be viewed as the last bastion men have to remain in a world without women.

For is it not Women who ultimately demand change when they finally realize they have the power to do so?  For some married male truckers who first brought wives to ride along the verbal attacks they received from fellow truckers were at times surprising, when for no apparent reason they were scolded for bringing a female presence in the trucking world.

The introduction of Women as Truckers has been an uphill battle, the stories are horrific of what persistent Women Truckers have endured to live their personal dream for freedom. While most may not understand what might posess a female to become a trucker, given our narrow societal mores of what is appropriate,  someone like Charley Parkhurst of the 1860′s most certainly would.

On the surface it may appear that the trucking industry welcomes women with open arms, but the evidence is to the contrary with recruitment much higher than retention.  Those women who are able to succeed are intimidated to speak out to help those who will be “happily recruited” into an antiquated training system, which takes race into account but not gender diversity.

In all male dominated industries just as in the old west there is a clash of the diverse personalities of women subsequently feeding the resistance to keep women from success.  While men from differing socio-economic, race & religious backgrounds tend to work out their differences in order to “make a paycheck,”  women are most often their own worst enemies.

Women who present themselves to gossip about other women or who are complacent when they witness abuse to other women accomadate a predator in order to maintain attention for their own ego.  They will manipulate situations for acceptance in male dominated industries, and feel that male attention equals acceptance.

Some choose to be aloof to another who seeks help, or judge free-thinking women as whores. Regarding themselves, their church or manner of dress as superior while failing to see that they themselves are the reason women do not receive equal treatment.

While all of these women may secretly want to be treated with greater respect we cannot conclude that it is the men holding us back, rather it is our own infighting that reduces our effectiveness. This should not be construed as man hating to ask women to stop apologizing and enabling for a limited population of predators they know exist in trucking.  The “Big Picture” is to embrace our differences with maturity and cast off the ignorant conclusions we put upon each other who choose different paths in life.

The mere mention of wanting to be treated with human dignity brings some women into attack mode upon each other as if to apoligize for being born female.  Feminism is a dirty word,  Equal pay advocates labeled a troublemakers.

Those women who are so eager to penetrate the glass ceiling and be included in the “Good Old Boys” club,  have simply labeled themselves “Willing & Able to continue business as usual”.  Let us not be fooled into thinking that those in the “White Blouse” are not corrupted by Greed & Power.  The increase of White Collar Crime among those who wear bras should not be overlooked.

Trucking provides anonimity that is unmatched and not understood until you do it yourself and you do it alone.  There is no denying there are those who live not only “alternative lifestyles” on the road but also, double lives.  That in itself should indicate why the introduction of women is not embraced by some.

One Trucker once blurted out to me in frustration “We want to go somewhere to get away from Women!” ,  it’s very true of some men,  not all but some. (He was married by the way)

Then there are the men who welcome women and the change they bring.  What would we think of a man who complained about urine soaked concrete?  Filthy showers?  Previously, only the Trucker’s Wife would hear such complaints because after all, the tough guy exterior might be damaged if it was widely known his cheif complaints were related to loneliness and discomfort.  Leave it to the women to take control and clean up, Right?

Do male truckers protest cleaning up Truck Stops?  Do the majority of men enjoy having someone bang on their door unsolicited when they are trying to sleep?  Offering company, drugs, DVD’s, perfume,?  I believe most men rather enjoy knowing female drivers will ultimately bring changes to trucking that have been long overlooked.

Women make life comfortable and while many single men might see this as an invasion to their freedom, a longtime married man knows a thing or two about remaining comfortable. Women often fail to realize when they remain silent they hurt their sisters, daughters and granddaughters. Teaching your children to judge others who live differently continues this cycle.  Men are no longer holding women back the way women are holding women back.

Women professionals who feel compelled to make excuses simply enable bad behavior of a limited few.  Embracing judgement of another woman shows a lack of self confidence to be a true leader.  This is the greatest detriment to Women Truckers which currently exists.  These Women have decided to live their lives in a manner differently and this is not for anyone else to understand or judge so long as they are doing the job.

Women of the trucking industry clearly underestimate men in the trucking industry which is advancing in all other areas.  Without clear leadership for professional conduct from our women leaders, how do we expect men will advance?

To shy away from speaking about real changes in conduct and ethics as more women are introduced is simply irresponsible.  If a CEO confesses he still has to take out the trash when he goes home at night, takes his Daughter for ice Cream on Saturday afternoon and cleans up dog poop in the yard,  I challenge that same man to make forward strides to create a safer training experience for all students recruited into trucking.

If he is presented the argument correctly, any ethical man would not refuse these changes.  So why are we tolerating women trucking leaders to tip toe around in 2010 casting judgement upon female truckers who have been abused rather than making a priority to create a safe environment for all?

Whether choosing to drive the truck or work in a support position in the male dominated industry of trucking, women who do not speak up for adavncement at this late day in age have no one to blame but their own bickering and complacency.

Men cannot be expected to read the minds of women in their own homes so why should they be expected to do it in trucking?  The industry is feeling the pressure to recruit more women therefore women in the industry should see this as an opportunity to move forward without making excuses for intolerable behavior by the few.

For a Woman named Charley who might be revered as a heroine to us today, what might women of her day say about her life’s choices?  Might she have been alienated by her male friends as well if they knew she was a witness to their lives away from women?  What are we protecting?  The last bastion of Peter Pan?  What of Petrina Pan?  In the 1860′s it was necessary for Charley to conceal who she was to fit in but this is 2010.

Additional Reading:

Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Women of American West

Old West was a Magnet for Gay Cowboys

Homosexuals and Transgender people in the Old West

Technorati Tags: Harassment, Truckers, Trucking, Women

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