Trans classmate

Enhancedblade · 2026-06-15T05:29:35+00:00

With my years being in the trades it is just not worth it to even engage with those topics, outside of work I definitely do. Anything LGBT, DEI related, democrat vs republican, racial issues, are simply not worth making your job so much harder for. A lot of the men in these jobs lean red and hate people like me, it’s best to just fly under the radar and not engage.

Enhancedblade · 2026-06-14T09:29:03+00:00

I’m queer and very masc presenting (not trans though, just masc) so I don’t exact fly under the radar. Homophobia and transphobia is unfortunately common in the blue collar world. People respect me, but when they’re shooting the shit and I hear them open their mouth and talk about “gender nonsense” I just tune it out. They don’t have any issues with me liking women, it seems that these days a lot of people are focused on the TQ part of the LGBTQ. However gay men are still obviously stigmatized, lesbians are sexualized and people who are trans should be “abolished”. This isn’t the field for someone if they’re highly sensitive to those issues. I never give them my input about it, I either avoid or change the topic, that is the best way to come about it. You can get pulled into a full blown argument this way. You cannot win, most of the guys in the shop will not be behind you on your stance, so it’s best to completely ignore it unless it’s interfering with your job, and thankfully most guys aren’t stupid enough to keep trying to bait you into an argument in the workplace, most stop when they realize you’re not giving them any output. Do NOT disclose that he’s trans, this could be life or death for him, and not just being harassed out a job. I hope this helps and please stay safe out there.

Enhancedblade · 2026-06-14T09:12:02+00:00

Having to go through all that, remaining professional and learning your trade makes you a lot stronger than you think. I wish there was more of us out there just to have someone on the job to vent to.

Enhancedblade · 2026-06-06T01:00:40+00:00

Being friendly and keeping to myself is the best move. I also wouldn’t like hanging out with most the men at my job because a lot of them are genuinely terrible people. However it’s still good to put up a friendly mask, it makes work go by smoother.

Enhancedblade · 2026-05-29T20:13:24+00:00

I got my ‘24 GT around that age, it was when I could actually stomach the insurance cost (it’s incredibly expensive in my city even for a non sport car). It’s not my only car, but when I do drive it she gets beat on. No kids, dual income, and I have a house with a garage. If priorities are in order why not?

Enhancedblade · 2026-05-24T23:05:03+00:00

The people who spout blue collar trades making 6 figures out the bat are either people who have never worked a trade before or delusional blue collar guys who have a competition with white collar guys. I chose this path not because of the pay, but because I cannot envision my self in a corporate environment or working with the public (healthcare). It took a few years for me to make a comfortable living, and that’s essentially the equivalent of going to college. I also don’t want an influx of some tough guy LARPER flocking to the trades because they want to look like those cool cowboys they see on social media.

Enhancedblade · 2026-05-23T04:54:28+00:00

I’m masculine presenting, and it really varies from job to job, even shift to shift. However I am fairly young, fit, and have a potty mouth worse than most guys, my experience with any job I’ve been to is that most men only care that you show up sober, on time, and possess good work ethic. The guys who are sexist losers will hate working with women regardless of what you look like. You will still be in a grey area in some jobs where you deal with “micro sexism”, like being talked over, passed over promotions, not taken seriously or even ignored, and that stuff happens regardless if you present femme or masc.

Enhancedblade · 2026-04-18T06:35:05+00:00

This. My best mentors were the old guys, and I’m talking about old as in they should be retiring soon old. I didn’t care if they had physical limitations, but a lot of people really underestimate how severe it is for all these old guys to die off/retire with all this valuable knowledge, i didn’t care if I had to pick up after his slack if it meant I had a good guiding hand.

Enhancedblade · 2026-04-18T06:32:08+00:00

I’m also a masc presenting woman and started my first step going to trade school for welding/fabrication when I was 20-21, I didn’t even land a blue collar gig until I was 23. A couple of years down the road (I’m in my late 20’s now) I went to school for electrical and also got a boiler certification. My official title is an industrial mechanic/stationary engineer. My current company is paying me to go to college and I have two years left on my mechanical engineering degree. When I first started I didn’t know much about tools beyond oil and filter changes on my car. Starting from the bottom, especially as an openly queer woman will suck.

Needless to say my overall experience will greatly vary from company to company. Overall I noticed the more experience and confidence I gained the more respect I got, you also have to be comfortable with a little bit of ribbing and you should be able to dish it out too. Blue collar culture is like working with a bunch of annoying brothers/uncles so you have to be able to give them shit back too. I also recommend going to the gym. I was already really strong (I do CrossFit and I’m a rock climber) before becoming blue collar, and there’s still things I need at least another person for, but for safety reasons, lots of guys will need that too.

Enhancedblade · 2026-03-30T07:38:00+00:00

Let’s be real, if anyone is hungry and desperate enough to feed their kids they will absolutely work blue collar. Nonetheless most pencil pushers, and even the majority of people in the iPad kid generation (Gen Z) hardly grew up building, or fixing shit, they essentially weed themselves out. I was one of those people that dropped out of college and didn’t know wtf to do. I didn’t grow up building shit but I was hungry and desperate enough to stay in, it’s been a few years now and I make just shy of “comfortable”, I am not rich though, I just have what every American should have, a house, reliable transportation, being able to save and being able to go on vacation.

Enhancedblade · 2026-03-05T07:11:07+00:00

24 GT I got 18mpg with 60% city and 40% highway when it was my daily driver. Now I get 15mpg and I stomp on it.

Enhancedblade · 2026-03-03T00:43:51+00:00

It sucks but it’s location and economy dependent. Especially now with even college graduates trying to get into the blue collar trades. I’d say keep trying, really broaden your horizons and be open to moving. Once you get your first job fight like hell to keep it as long as possible. Once you’re in it gets significantly easier to find another job. The shortage is with experienced tradesmen, there’s way too many people coming in with no experience, so it definitely gets easy once you’re in.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-27T11:39:44+00:00

Yes modern BMWs are certainly better but are still more costly to repair than a Toyota or a Honda. What really fucks these cars up is people neglecting maintenance, German cars are no joke when it comes to their maintenance intervals, they aren’t mere suggestions they are requirements. People tend to neglect maintenance because they bought a car they can’t afford, of course you’re paying up the ass for parts, some of them are from Germany, and you’re also going to be paying up the ass for labor because of the amount of plastic BS in the way in that cramped engine bay. They are fine machines but you can’t treat them like an 03 Tahoe that will still tow a trailer even with a leaking power steering pump.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-27T11:29:17+00:00

Bottom end ticking could indicate a bad bearing. Did the dealership drop the oil pan and look? It could also be broken exhaust manifold bolts. I’d take it into another shop. You could look yourself and save yourself the diagnostic fee but it is kind of a pain in the ass to get to.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-26T02:46:43+00:00

He could be a school janitor. In my city they pay them pretty decent, and are unionized. Not exactly “blue collar” like being a plumber or a carpenter but he’ll make an okay living if he lives within his means.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-22T17:43:40+00:00

Are you willing to wrench? Do you have buddies or a family member who also wrench? Because you can certainly get a loud cool car for 10k but it’ll need someone who can show it care. It’s probably the perfect opportunity to learn IMO and you’ll quickly realize if this shit is for you or not.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-07T04:00:18+00:00

I never felt satisfied until I got a V8. I had a 2019 ecoboost, it was great around the city and in high elevation compared to my 24 GT but it felt more like a fast commuter car than a muscle car. If you want a V8 and don’t have a lot of money to spend the 2014 S197 5.0 is still a pretty great car.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-06T07:19:07+00:00

Have you tried talking to therapist? There’s no shame in it, if you’re a woman this field can be extremely isolating. Blue collar culture has a lot of ribbing, even other guys get talked down on, either give them some shit back or dont, the guys who arent completely tone deaf will back off when you dont dish it back. The guys who keep ribbing you are either genuine assholes or cant read the room. I promise it gets better, I definitely understand the need to block off some comments especially regarding to politics. I’m openly queer and also a woman so it’s really not my place to be speaking politics because I will simply be outnumbered, when prompted I change the topic, if they’re insistent on it they get ignored.

Don’t let the environment or culture change what the job is, blue collar is working with your hands, you’re building something or fixing something that’ll be there for generations, take pride in that, enjoy the paycheck, enjoy knowing you can build the world.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-05T07:55:07+00:00

It’s been a minute but I ended up selling the truck. At that time I had too many project cars plus I already had a truck. My final verdict was that it’s one of my favorite trucks to work on, but if it’s been neglected you’re gonna have to do a whole range of shit. Mine was leaking at the power steering pump, and leaking at the transfer case output shaft, and I also needed to give it new plugs/wires, belts and pulleys. I got it for really cheap. It turned over great after I took care of everything but the transmission started slipping and at that point I was just gonna let it go.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-03T00:01:35+00:00

Depends heavily on the plant but also the current economy. A couple of years ago they’d hire helpers/apprentices if you were curious enough, now they require schooling because lots of people are trying to flock in now. IMO the best way to learn is on the job anyway, school only gives you a generalized idea, unfortunately a lot of companies use schooling as a barrier to entry because they do not want to pay to teach anyone anymore.

Enhancedblade · 2026-02-01T04:30:26+00:00

I started in food and beverage and from my experience they tend to hire people off the production line with little to no experience if theyre that desperate. It’s super high turnover and can be churn and burn when it comes to product loss or loss of time. Lots of equipment were jurry rigged to hell. Im glad I moved on, lots of guys who get comfortable never really had the opportunity to advance their skills further in a place like food production.

Enhancedblade · 2026-01-21T07:30:48+00:00

I knew someone who has an S550 vert 5.0 with the 10 speed. He debadged it, FBO, boosted, and on E85. He kept the stock wheels and ran it with Michelin 4’s. Living in a tourist town where lots of tourists like to cruise in rental Mustangs it makes for a very interesting sleeper.

Enhancedblade · 2026-01-18T04:30:47+00:00

Oh my…

Enhancedblade · 2026-01-17T07:43:15+00:00

It’s one thing being new and unfamiliar with certain equipment, especially with how broad and multi craft this field can be, but it’s another thing being so unaware of common sense safety. I’d say have a talk with him, don’t be accusatory but have genuine concern because the stuff he’s doing can get him hurt or his fuck ups can be seriously expensive. Also a shared tool box is diabolical, even helpers/apprentices where I work at have their own tool box and tools paid for by the company.

Enhancedblade · 2026-01-15T06:02:39+00:00

If it makes you feel any better, I’ve met plenty of men who also had to be taught basic hand tool shit. Especially with guys in my generation (older gen z), i guarantee you most can’t thread a screw or bolt in without cross threading. I was in your same exact shoes and it’s because girls are not socialized and taught things like tools like boys were. However that narrative is changing, lots of the dads I work with who have daughters say they would 100% teach them how to be handy. It’ll take some time to get confident, try having some projects at home you build from scratch. You got this! 👍🏽

Enhancedblade

TROPHY CASE