A lady e-mailed me asking if women are allowed to join "traditional" motorcycle clubs.
The answer is "no".
Most three-piece patch motorcycle clubs do not allow women to become full-fledged members. Women are seen as "property of" patched members. A club member's woman can party and hang out with the club, but usually that's about it. The motorcycle club is a man's club.
Some motorcycle clubs have an auxiliary club for women, but do not offer members any priviledges into the motorcycle club itself.
The one-piece patch motorcycle clubs, on the other hand, often do let women join as full-fledged members and wear club patches. They go through the same process of hanging around, becoming a prospect, and then earning their patch.
Riding clubs also allow women to join.
Of course, there are also motorcycle clubs for women that are not associated with any men's motorcycle clubs. Depending on what state they're located in, they may even have membership with the COC.
The reasons for excluding women is largely because of tradition. The clubs that spawned after WWII largely came about as soliders, sailors, and pilots returned from the war and still wanted some kind of club that kept their clicques together. They found motorcycles, and rode together, just like flying planes in a squadron. That brotherhood continued forward as a standard among motorcycle clubs.
There's also a practical reason, and it's that when you allow women to have full priviledges as patch holders, the members jeopardize their brotherhood bond. Women patchholders start romances with the male patchholders, jealously sets in, and then revenge. The club starts fragmenting into smaller clicques.
It's not just an issue with three-piece patch clubs, but in all clubs. It's just that three-piece patch clubs simply can't afford to have these issues.
San Diego, CA-based motorcycle rider who likes long road trips, old rustic bars, craft beer, and tough women. Can often be found where there's free Wi-Fi, writing about the mysteries of life. 
Ride For The Brand
1 hour ago
As the first female patch holder of a club, I am very aware of the issues that can come up.
ReplyDeleteOne that I have made a point to do my best to avoid is issues with the wives/primary girlfriends of the other club members.
Believe me, if the women (property) in an all men's club don't like you.. you aren't getting in.
Top it off.. I am a single female, which makes it hard to get the trust of the women. I don't want their men. I want to ride with my brothers that is all. The wives aren't allowed to come to the meetings or have a vote, so me being where they can't go is hard for some of them.
I keep my P's and Q's straight when it comes to the club. I make it a point to talk to the wives whenever they are around.
I keep in contact with the wives as much as I do my brothers.
However, I have made my loyalties clear. Do not ask me what my brothers do when you are not around. I am NOT here to be your eyes and ears. These are my brothers and this is our club. Period.
Romance in the club huh? lol Yeah, I went there before I became a Prospect. Thing is, it was our business. Nobody knew and well.. now we are just good friends.
Some women know what is important and what is not. My claws come out just like every other woman. However, my club comes first above anything and anyone else.
Oh yeah, and I am fiercely protective over the club and very skeptical of any other woman who comes around that wants to join. No possessive.. protective. If she can get through my process (by coming at me straight), she is a good fit. If she starts playing games and crying to a guy patch holder to protect her, the club is in a world of trouble if they let her in.
I will say I like your style of writing and your honesty. I live in Lancaster and ride a sportbike. I plan on going to the Hurricane Biker Girl event next month. Who knows.. maybe I will see you and your wife on my journey that way. :)
Sober MC Allows full women members - I think most 3 patch AA clubs do
ReplyDeleteYes - at the last AA mc roundup there were many female patch holders.
Deletegypsy mc alows women to prospect patch and hold office we wear a three piece patch
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting that, as a cop and a Harley owner, I cannot become a member of any 3 piece patch club dedicated to law enforcement members. So I'm good enough to go into a gun battle with, but not wear colors with? I can get into hand to hand battle alongside ya, but how dare I want to ride next to you! How f'ed up is that. Don't even get me started on the romance theory either. I am quite straight and quite happy with my non-motorcycle owning man. My point is, times have changed, we do battle together now, accept it.
ReplyDeleteIts because they cant do drugs in front of you, sell them, or beat anyone up for that matter. Does that answer your why question?
DeleteMost three piece patch clubs do not view women as property anymore (that's not to say all). But they will never be members in a MENS club, not just for the reasons that were mentioned in the article but also for the bar fight reasons. What is a 150 lb. women going to do when her "brother" is in a fight with three 6 foot 2, 260 lb members from another club? Yell? Also what about confrontations between her and another club member, is she willing to take a punch in the face from a man? Is he willing to hit her?
ReplyDeleteAnd what about (I know this is going to piss alot of women off),but clubs sometimes have to be very delicate with each other and choose their words carefully lest they start a war or big problems, but if she is having that monthly thing and she is irrational, then everyone now has a hugemess to work through, and people could get hurt or even die. It's just too much drama and extra work For a MENS club, just join a womens club.
Why can't men have a club of their own, why is it sexist if they want a little guy time. As a police officer I work with women and I treat them the same as male officers. I am married so I don't try to get to know them on any other level but personal, why should I have to feel bad for wanting to be in a club were I can just hang with the boys for a awhile? Do men not rate a little freedom from women, please don't make a issue out of this u want a club start one committed to you fellow female officers then but leave ours alone.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm having a dilemma with all this. I've been invited to prospect for a traditional mc. My old lady is a great rider, keeps in formation with the club when she comes along, and the guys really like her. I've ridden more miles with her and had more adventures than with anyone else over the years. I don't think I can blow her off and leave her behind like that, as if she wasn't good enough any more. she sure wouldn't do it to me. I wish there was an alternative. We'll figure it out.
ReplyDeleteMy husband did do me like that! He joined his club and left be behind. I ride more miles than every rider in that club and a bigger bigger bike. I even work on my own bike. As my husband himself said, "she could outride anyone in the club." I understand the reasoning of brotherhood and respect it but why such a stink about having a women's club. It's like the only kind of womens club around here is if your lesbian(which I am not) I love to ride and would love to find other women that feel the same way I do.I am not going to stay behind cooking and cleaning. I have ridden by myself for so long now I welcome the day I can find some sisters and ride!
ReplyDeleteI may be doing a TV film/doc about lady bikers/ women MC. I realize you would be interested in starting your own club correct? Where/in what state, are you located?
ReplyDeleteI understand some pretty valid points here. As woman I don't have many female friends because of the kind of drama mentioned. My husband is already a member of the club I'd like to join, and we are VERY dedicated to each other so jealousy issues and blah, blah, blah, don't really apply to this. I'm 5'4" but stocky, and occasionally get mistaken for a man and can throw my 6'3" 280lb. husband around. My brother grew up to be a bouncer, I had to be tough. I think should be allowed to probate, I ain't asking for special treatment, but I guess my tits count more than my tires.
ReplyDeleteAs they say, If it's got tits or tires, it's gonna give you problems. You should join a woman's club as the Sgt. at Arms. Let your man do his thing while you do yours....
ReplyDeleteWomen don't be allowed to join a real club not because they cannot bar fight but because they make a mess out of everything they get involved with.
ReplyDelete"They" make a mess out of everything... So since a woman made you, is that what you are? A mess.
DeleteI'm an officer in a women's motorcycle club. We have a 1 piece patch. We are a support club for a 1% club. We hang around....we prospect....some patch up. We ride long and hard in all types of weather.
ReplyDeleteSome of the things pointed out are entertaining.. Women who ride are a breed of their own, we are not like other women, we can hold our own on and off the road. There are men who can be just as dramatic and shit.
ReplyDeleteWhat I have found, and what I like about the Biker world and culture is that it will always come down to respect.
I know that as a woman I have gained the trust and respect from the 1%ers in my area. I respect their choice to be an all male club. So, no I can not prospect or be a patch member.. but, I know they love and respect me as I do them. They have my back, even if it doesn't have their patch on it.. because of what is in our hearts and soul.