Support has been flooding in for a female biker who says she receives ‘vile’ comments and frequent sexism as she rides a Harley Davidson.
The misogyny faced by insurance worker Michelle Chamberlain, 31, from Swansea, has been described as “pathetic behaviour” and many have rushed to voice their support for the long-time motorbike rider.
Michelle started motorbiking a decade ago when her biker step-father passed away from cancer in 2012. But she said she regularly had to deal with misogyny from both bikers and non-bikers. This includes weekly marriage proposals, sexual comments and the occasional, unwanted, nude pictures from men on social media. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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One of those to voice her support for Michelle on social media was Ann Southcott, who said: “You go girl, that's the way, stay safe and enjoy, stuff what anyone says.”
Likewise, David Hicks told her: “You go for it, and enjoy the bike ride,” while Graham Coles said: “Good for you, keep riding keep safe” and Lee Pittard added: “Crack on Michelle and enjoy!” You can read more stories about Swansea here.
Michelle posts pictures on her Instagram of her riding the bike, and sometimes wearing a beautiful dress next to it in a spectacular location in Wales.
Naomi Baynes said of the images: “Women should be able to wear what they want without the fear of men hitting on them.”
Joking about the unwanted male attention Michelle received, Joel Worsfold said that “these are the same men who hold onto the handle in a car when you’re doing 50mph on the motorway!” Why are road lanes often closed off when there's no-one working there - find out here.
“What’s wrong with women riding bikes?” asked Martin Bedernyak, “the problem is certain men who are threatened by you.” Similarly, Paul Coates called the sexual comments “pathetic behaviour from idiots who think they're better than anyone else.”
One commenter, Adam Rees, wrote: “She’s riding a Harley Davidson, a monster of a bike which is more than half of men can handle these days. Being a woman has got sod all to do with riding two wheels.”
Another, Karen Jacobs, added: “Good for her, I guess some men just can’t handle it. Sadly, there will always be misogynists in society, which is really quite pathetic.”
Female riders have also gone on to share their own experiences, including Welshie Lwynog, who commented: “I have been a biker for years. When I get asked if it is my bike while I’m in full gear and getting off my bike, I tell them ‘I think real hard with my lady brain, I can even use the indicators.’”
Michelle said she had been disappointed by the reaction she received from some male riders and non-riders.
She said: “I understand I am a bit of a unicorn in the biking community, it is rare to see a tiny blonde on a Harley Davidson. I get a lot of comments like ‘do you actually ride that?’ or ‘is that your boyfriend's bike?’. It surprises a lot of people that I ride a bike more than twice my body weight.
“I have had weird messages from men on social media offering to be my sugar daddy and a few marriage proposals, all of which were declined swiftly. I have gotten the occasional unwarranted intimate photo of men exposing themselves - but unfortunately, it's part and parcel of social media.
“More than anything, the fact that some people are surprised that I am a woman, who can ride a motorcycle is insulting, I always reply jokingly, 'it doesn’t take a penis to ride a bike'."
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