Check it out. There is a disparity in the number of women versus men driving Jeeps in the Burley area. I believe that it is granted that Burley is the bastion of the “Good Ol’ Boys,” a well-recognized description of any male-dominated domain, particularly in the Western United States. This concept applies to vehicles driven by Burley-based men. “Muscle cars” abound along with the all-pervasive 8-cylinder pickup trucks, although I will have to admit that I have observed a growing number of females driving the above-mentioned models.
There is one vehicle which has escaped the intrusion of feminine dominance, and that is the Jeep – an iconic piece of military equipment – and even though women are an essential part of today’s military, very few personally identify with the Jeep. I did not consider joining the military because, as my Mother and a few school administrators have put it, I am an obstinate person – even described as “hard headed” by many who know me well. It was agreed by all concerned that I would not last a week in basic training. I don’t take orders well.
It is that very characteristic, however, that has inspired me to recently purchase a Jeep Wrangler Sport – with a Freedom top. My husband and I have both been, and still are Toyota owners. My husband spent 37 years in the military and has been well-ingrained with the values gained from that experience. One of those ingrained values is his love for Jeeps, and up until recently he drove a 2003 Jeep Wrangler – his “toy” as friends and family affectionately called it. But the new Toyota Tacoma and my Corolla were the transportation workhorses for the two of us – that is, until I spotted a silver and black Jeep Wrangler on display at a local car lot.
To put it simply, I was overcome with admiration for this vehicle. It was almost predictable that in the following week, the older Jeep and the Corolla became history, and were supplanted by my Jeep. I didn’t realize how iconoclastic this decision was until my husband began to receive reactions from (mostly male) friends and family. You can’t be serious! You’re not giving up your Jeep so that she can drive it! You’re kidding – it’s not her Jeep – it’s yours!
One of our best friends and neighbors is still holding out – he refuses to believe that any man in his right mind would let his wife possess a Jeep, much less drive it. But what can I say? He’s a coach!
It has been an epiphany for me – the men of Burley are a bunch of male chauvinists when it comes to women driving jeeps, especially when one of those women is a retired high school English teacher. My husband softens the blow by allowing me some deference – he never drives the Jeep without asking my permission. I love him for that!
I urge the female citizens of Burley to seriously consider following my example. Read the Jeep commercials in the magazines, and watch them on television. You will see that the builders of this liberating vehicle understand exactly what I am saying.
As one ad puts it, “I live. I ride. I am Jeep.” And I would add, “I am woman. I am free!”
Sarah M. Blasius
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Picture? Please? (What’s a Freedom top? In the 70′s it was a halter top.)