STICK and stones may break bones, but it’s argued that chains and spanners excite many who take up the work of giving extra life to motor vehicles.
Enter Jacqueline Onasis Mudenda, a petit 21-yeay-old who is challenging the stereotype that spanners and oils are to men as tomato and onion is to women.
In an interview with #Kalemba, Jacqueline who was born virtually yesterday in 1999 shared her last life as Lady Mechanic.
The native of Chawama said that she, like all other young people, never started off with a greasy ambition of being a mechanic but when she enrolled at St Mawagali College in Choma, stars in the heavens aligned to form a bright path for her way to being a car doctor leaving her to graduate with an Automotive Mechanics Trade Certificate.
Of course, in her career, she explains that its not only the oil trying to stick to her clothes but a few many male clients who wish she can spanner more than their cars.
“…male clients sometimes fail to keep things professional and tend to try and push ulterior motives which then leaves things in an awkward place because you cannot be rude to a client but again you respect yourself..” she explains.
On gender stereotyping, Jacqueline says that some clients falsely feel men are more competent mechanics despite college and job performance proving otherwise.
She however says she’s up for the challenge of proving that car engines respect no gender but skill.
On family life, Jacqueline credits her upbringing in a family of exclusively daughters of which out of five she is the second born.
“I’m the second born in a family of five beautiful girls. Being the second born is a blessing because I have learnt to be respectful”
Jacqueline says she stands ready to join any progressive garage so that she can fix cars to customer satisfaction.
So, would you give Jacqueline your car?
©Kalemba April 29, 2021
