Helmet Burning Broads: The Liberation of the Female Biker

After attending an outlaw biker event last year I heard someone say, “Serial killers have more respect for women then these assholes.” Maybe it was the chocolate topless female wrestling that made him say that. Maybe it was the invisible mistletoe booth where every time a woman came within a few feet of a certain clubs patched members she had to flash the club or face being doused by beer. But I suppose it could’ve also had something to do with the women who wore the “Property Of” patch following their property owners like obedient dogs (or bitches as some of them were referred to). 

Citing almighty Wikipedia, the site defines the role of women in the world of the outlaw biker as follows: One-percenter MCs (OMCs) do not allow women to become full-patch members. Rather, women are submissive to the men, treated as property, forced into prostitution or street-level drug trafficking, and often physically and sexually abused. Any pay women receive is given to their individual men and sometimes to the entire club. Women's roles as obedient followers, and their status as objects, make these groups extremely gender segregated.

I will make the very short leap and assume that motorcycle icon Bessie “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami” Stringfield would’ve never allowed herself to be subjugated to the above mentioned indignities which (again I’m assuming) is partly why she formed her own MC, The Iron Horses MC which is one of the earliest clubs founded by a woman. Not assuming, but knowing damn well that a self taught motorcycle riding woman who traveled across a segregated country before the Civil Rights era on her own Harley Davidson wasn’t taking much shit from anyone so it’s logical to think today’s gender roles in MC’s wouldn’t be acceptable to her.   

The motorcycle culture specifically one involving the hierarchy and traditions of a true MC (no Sucka MC’s) at its best is a misogynist arena where based on those traditions, the outcome is never in doubt. Even with the advent of credible all female MC’s, testosterone continues to be the ingredient that keeps the ether burning. When’s the last time anyone received a flier for a bike washing expecting to see half naked men washing bikes? When’s the last time anyone attended a private party in a club house and saw male dancers having Jack Daniels poured on them? Most men would be disgusted at the thought of it and most women wouldn’t even contemplate such a scene. In other words, what women want and like aren’t even considerations in most things MC related so what place do women actually have in this culture? Has Bessie’s influence permeated amongst the female riding set or like the dwindling size of panties to thongs, has Bessie Stringfield become a string disappearing in a sea of apathetic asses and assholes?

An anomaly in the community not just because she prefers the aroma of exhaust over the fragrance of Chanel, but because JesBlaze is a VP in a mixed gender MC but she’s respected by both male and female bikers on the set. Jes Blaze of Power Movez MC out of Queens ( ihttp://www.facebook.com/powermovez ) is a female biker who actually prefers hanging with the boys.

“I never thought to joining or forming an all female MC 'cause my personality and opinions may offend females. I'm a tomboy and I know my views are a lot different then other females. I don’t tolerate bullshit in general but I absolutely have no patience with the female bullshit, so of course that's not gonna fly in a female MC. I don't wanna deal with any female being a hoe, any prissiness, gotta get my hair and nails did or any of that. Mount up and let’s ride.”

VP Blaze isn’t the only woman biker to have that same opinion. Independent rider Elena Mzladylegz Patterson of NY says an all female MC was never a consideration for her. “I’m much rather be around the men and a male dominated club because even when I was in a club, the women would be more concerned with designing the next fly vest, the next party, what outfit to wear with what vest and getting their hair and nails done. They hardly had anything to contribute when it came to actual riding or the bikes themselves.”

In terms of all female MC’s, Elena goes on to elaborate a point that many women seem to share. “Just women in general are a lot of drama. The little female day to day issues add up to a lot of big drama and I don’t want any part of it.” 

Continuing on all female MCs “I don't necessarily see a specific purpose they serve. A helmet serves a purpose. A leather jacket serves a purpose. I'm not so sure I see the point to an all female club.” Speaking plainly with no disgust whatsoever Patterson adds, “

I haven't seen a female MC represent in large numbers doing actual runs like the male MC's. The only time you see them all together is when they have a national party” Patterson is quick to clarify however that, “The female MC clubs down South are entirely different. They hold it down and seem to have their stuff together. From what I’ve seen in the NY clubs or the ones up East, they aren’t as organized as the Southern women.”  

“I just wanted to be a better rider and track days teach you how to do that on the street. From how to take turns, body positioning, foot positioning and throttle control, you learn it all here and you can bring it to the street with you.”

Jes Blaze has seen the maturation of the female biker from the points of view of being an independent rider herself and now VP of a nationally recognized MC.

“People need to just understand their place and I don’t mean that in a bad way but a real way. No matter how you look at it, the MC community is a man’s world and women are an adoptive step child. You're not born into this but you can be accepted and loved if you know your role.”

Arguably knowing one’s role is not generally a designation that can be attributed to independent rider MzNez Independent Rider Nezzy. Notorious for having the nerve to have an opinion that she’s willing to share, she’s a NY rogue who just so happens to be a female biker with a mouth and presence as loud as any Vance Hines exhaust kit.

“As far as a specific role, play your position and make sure everything after that is respect and knowledge and ride to earn it!” As a “legal” rider for the last eight years and a former President of an all female MC, Nez has the “plumbing” to speak as a female biker as well as the years in the community, specifically her former role as President.

“Think about this. Who’s gonna really come and support a female club that throws an all male bike wash or strip show? Chicks in the circuit are jealous of each other, hold grudges, one is prettier than the other, blah blah blah and this is why there aren't many successful female MC's out here. They die out quick.” Going from gender specific to club general, Nez adds, “No real MC’s support whackness unless you’re straight up fuckin’. Fuck your way up or ride and gain respect. Yes, I can name some whack MC's,” she says and laugh’s the way that Nez does and concludes, “Hmmm, maybe on the next one.”

When that role comes up as Property, Jes Blaze believes that, “Property is not a derogatory term if you understand the history and the respect that comes with being Property.” But when asked if she’d agree to be someone’s Property she laughs and says, “I’ll get back to you on that.” She quickly responds however and adds, “If my man is in a club where that’s called for, of course I’d do it. I don’t have a choice but since that’s not the case, I don’t have to consider that.”

That “role” however should not be as models on bikes as opposed to bikers on bikes. It’s a position that Elena Mzladylegz Patterson feels is detrimental to women garnering respect in the community. “Motorcycles and naked chicks go back years but you know what goes back further? Bikers and motorcycles and if you’re a biker, regardless of gender, you should be stressing that, not how you look naked next to your bike. You should make your bike sexy, not the other way around.”

The passion for equal respect in the community lingers when Patterson touches on events and parties where women routinely parade themselves in revealing apparel. “When I see pictures from Black Tigers and I see women out there completely naked with hardly anything on thinking they’re sexy I just shake my head. The MC community is a male dominated society and women have gone from being property to riding their own bikes. We're earning our respect but then you get women who do that naked thing and it sets all of us back. Half naked, running around from bike to bike, club to club, man to man is setting us back and it’s disgusting.”

As manager of the premiere biker bar in Nassau County Tara Crawley has a very distinct position by not only being a woman of color but also being one of the more well known, and respected MC affiliated women in the Outlaw community. While she doesn’t currently ride her own bike, she is as much a biker as anyone on two’s. After sharing with her the description of the role of women in Outlaw clubs as defined by Wikidpedia Crawley doesn’t hesitate:

“Someone’s been watching too much Gangland,” she laughs.  “Is some of it true? Yes, but you hardly see that anymore. That’s more back in the day. What I’ve seen is guys treating their old ladies like queens.” With Jugs & Strokers a known hub of Outlaw and general riding clubs in Merrick, Long Island, Crawley is on the front lines and sees things first hand.

“Some clubs still use the term “Property” but it’s pretty much an old school term. The position still applies but the term isn’t as widely thrown out there. They’re called Diamond Girls.” An obvious ode to their boyfriends and husbands in diamond clubs (1% clubs)” the term Property has adopted a more illustrious and to some, more respectable term in Diamond Girls. “Diamond Girls have higher rank then hang arounds. They’re a woman of a fully patched member in good standing and it’s an incredibly high rank.” Crawley is quick to point out that rank isn’t as high as a patch wearer but, “Trust me. It’s a status.”

MzNez adds very eloquently that, “We all think Property is a bad thing from the stories we hear. Things are out there that men make these ladies do crazy things like they’re being pimped out, disrespected or getting beat up but that’s not entirely true. On our radio show ("www.AllRidersRadio.com) we talked about it and a lot of things came to light.”

Admitting her own position on the Property title Nez adds, “If you would’ve asked me would I ever be Property I would’ve said never, hell to the no (laughter). You couldn’t pay me to be a Property. Some “Property” called in and not only did I get checked but I was schooled on what it is to be “Property”. I’ve been very blessed to meet great women who live the Property lifestyle and I call them my friends today. Properties are very respected and everything you hear out there you shouldn’t just believe. Give them a chance and you will learn alot.”

As is the litmus test, when asked if she’d ever rock a property of patch in her usual Nez candor she responded, “I’ve been asked to rock it some time ago and had to say no. A friendship, and or possibly fucking isn’t enough for me. Not for nothin’ but you gotta offer me more than a good nut for me to ever cross over, and I say that respectfully.”

Status or position for a female within the MC community isn’t relegated to patches and the bike in between her legs. Akron Ohio native Stephanie White is the founder and CEO of Black Cycle Mama. They specialize in developing sexy and safe motorcycle gear specifically for women of color.

“We stress safety and sexy because of the simple reason that riding safe should be everyone’s priority but secondly, because so many women do it wrong.” Wrong as defined by White is as follows: “A cat suit and stiletto’s on a motorcycle may be sexy but what are you saying about yourself and more importantly, what are other people saying about you when you roll up wearing that?”

Citing an all female motorcycle club in Ohio, White notes, “You can ask almost any brother in the community up here anything about that club and the first thing they’ll say about those girls is that they’re hoes. Ask them why it’s not only because they do in fact sleep around in the community but because they look like hoes. It’s just disgusting.”

It’s partly what led White, who has never been a member of any club to form Black Cycle Momma in June 2010. “Respect is given when you have respect for yourself.” By June of 2012 her company will be launching with full retail services to ensure at the very least, women riders who want to ride and look sexy doing it, can do it with safety and respect as poignant as the bikes in between their legs.

Like the Civil Rights Movement that ended a decade too early and a few leaders short, arguably the strides made by African Americans since have been stymied more so by African Americans themselves then by any other race. A combination of ignorance and arrogance is a recipe for internal and external stumbling blocks that prevent the escalation of respect given to women in the MC community. Why every single female (African American or Minority) female MC or rider doesn’t have a required Bessie Stringfield patch is something I don’t understand. She is the Sonny Barger or the Tobie Gene Levingston of the female MC set with respect coming from both sides of the gender aisle. She is the original female bad ass and someone both men and women bikers should aspire to or be inspired by.

“Bessie is a pioneer and I’m not sure why more people don’t know her or talk about her but she’s the female Martin Luther King Jr. for female riders. We all owe her our respect,” an emphatic Elena Mzladylegz Patterson preaches.

In a ridiculously dominated male culture, if women expect to be respected as equals whether for their riding skills or biker bravado, they do not have the luxury of playing into gender stereotypes that live down to reinforcing the cavemen attitudes of so many men within the MC community. It’s an unfair expectation because for example, women who ride with stiletto’s and or short shorts or just thongs can’t be taken seriously because it’s obvious that they care very little about their safety. But what about the men who ride with no protective armor and sometimes no shirt at all and worse, with shorts and sneakers? Are they not still bikers?

That expectation of female bikers is made to be even more unfair because there is no responsibility of male riders to accept or respect female’s bikers if they don’t want to. That’s like going to someone’s home and asking them not to smoke in their own house that they pay the bills for. It’s not realistic so it’s incumbent upon the visitor, or in this case, the women to understand “the house of the MC community” and their role in it.

It’s not to say women have “a” place, but it’s not to say they don’t either. Everyone has a role to play and playing that role should be done with respect and confidence that you are doing the right thing. Granted the right thing is completely subjective but when you have confidence in how you’re representing yourself and your club, no one else’s opinion matters…whether they’re a man or woman.

Be safe out there and stay SUCKA MC FREE.

Please note two all female MC’s were asked to participate in this weeks discussion but for whatever reason neither were able to follow through. It would have been an even more compelling piece with their participation but due to the overwhelming response from females within the community, Sucka MC Free will make the topic of women bikers a monthly discussion with at least one article a month dedicated to the topic.  We at Sucka MC Free look forward to your continued support and participation in these and other conversations. Thank you.