Helloj, I am Theresa, the creator of DirtyBosuns.com. Thanks for taking your time to read this section. It’s the most important to me...and I honestly don’t know if I will get that right. So try to cut me some slack.
I mainly work on shipyards and on Tallships as Bosun or Rigger. I love what I do, I love the work, to get dirty being in fucking pain after a good day of work and knowing I helped a ship to sail on a little longer. The only frustrating part is, how often I get told I can´t do stuff. Just because I’m a freaking woman.
I got told I can’t come to Rigging projects because I am a woman and that would be inappropriate. “We never would send women to take yards down.” “We need a strong guy for that, so go back to writing your lists, Theresa.” You can’t work on this shipyard; we don’t have a toilet for you.” “Oh we do have a toilet but you always have to pick up the key with the captain (and find him first).” “I don’t want a woman in the cherry picker, she can only label and not take the stuff down.” “If we employed more women, we would need to have more of them to get the same workload done.” “You’re a woman you can’t lift that heavy.” “Oh it’s your first day, go help in the galley, meanwhile we all go out playing with the RIB.” … Calling me honey and babe on the job isn’t helpful but undermining. If you tell me I should smile more while working, bite your tongue and make me laugh. And no, just because you employed me or are taking pictures with me doesn’t mean you get to grope me. That’s a different line of business...
FUCK THAT. I could go on like that for hours. And it would be bitter, ugly and hateful. And I don’t want that. I don’t want any of that in my life. I just wanna work in peace. But after years of listening and fighting for every inch…I am at my wits end.
So this is a call for help. To everybody. To every guy and girl out there, if you hear a girl say the word “I need a guy to lift that...” No you don’t. You need the right technique or a second person. If you can’t lift it alone, don’t assume a guy will want to break his back for you. Do it the fuck together. If you hear a guy say sexist shit, don’t just sit there, call him out. Especially if you also happen to be a proud dick owner. I think you got power. Guy to guy, call each other out, if you’re being a sexist prick. If I do it, I am bitchy, “have an attitude” or get asked if I am on my period (don’t worry, I’ll let you know when I am). If you get shitty comments because you called a guy out, I am here and I have your back.
I just wish we could just all happily and blissfully work in peace without considering what’s between the others’ legs before handing out the jobs.
If you have any other Ideas, want to share your story or something like that, get in touch. I don´t want this to be a manhunt or page for hate. I wanna hear about the good guys too, faith-restoring stuff. There are so many good people out there, give me some positive input, solutions or restore my hope.
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Theresa Just wanna work in fuckin peace