A previously obscure American subculture about linemen has rose to prominence on social media this week, leaving many TikTok and Twitter users scratching their heads.
A lineman is a professional who repairs high-powered electrical lines and, as the damage from Hurricane Ian is being assessed, these workers from all over the country are needed for their expertise.
According to the Municipal Association of South Carolina: "It's one of the most welcome sights after a hurricane blows through or an ice storm freezes a town: a utility truck rolling into the neighborhood with linemen aboard, ready to climb poles, repair lines and restore power."
Linemen are making headlines this week due to the hurricane and subsequent repair efforts, but thanks to social media, the subculture surrounding the wives of these service workers has attracted much attention.
To begin, we need to look at linemen. This is a profession that involves a lot of travel, with the website linemancentral.com stating that a typical worker will be on the road for five months of the year.
"Some lineman jobs are all about travel as there are crews that are spun up for storm season. Many contractors along the southeast and northeast are in high demand during storm seasons," the website says.
"These contractors require quality labor and are willing to pay top dollar for the long hours both on the road as well as restoring power lines after major storms."
On TikTok and Twitter, many people are pointing out that this is a blue-collar profession but a particularly lucrative one. The average salary for a lineman in Alabama, Texas and Virginia rangers from around $81,000 to $107,000 per annum.
What is a Linewife?
A tweet by journalist Kelsey Weekman went viral today when she announced she stumbled upon "linewife vs. bucket bunny TikTok."
A linewife is the wife of a lineman and there appears to be an online community of women whose identities are closely connected to their husbands' profession.
These women post regularly on TikTok and have a shared bond that stems from their husbands traveling for work and a shared fear of infidelity.
There is even a dedicated website called linewife.com which offers support and encouragement for the community online.
"We know this isn't an easy life, so having others to share their experience with makes it much easier," the website says. "Just know you are not alone and many ladies out there that have gone through what you are going through right now."
The website adds: "We know Living the linelife as a Linewife or Linelady is tough. Let's be honest, there is always constant change in a Linewife/Ladies Life. Here at Linewife, our focus is to lift other ladies up and bring a light into their crazy line lives and warmth in their heart!"
What is a Bucket Bunny?
According to Urban Dictionary, a bucket bunny is "a woman who hops from electrical lineman to lineman looking to have sex often not caring if the men are single or married. 'Bucket' refers to the lineman's work truck that has a long extended bucket."
The term appears to be a pejorative and often used in conjunction with the phrase "line hoe" which appears to mean the same thing.
So why are linewives and bucket bunnies trending?
This subculture has taken off on TikTok this week because some women have admitted to being bucket bunnies who are seeking linemen to sleep with, while some married linemen have been called out for being spotted on Tinder while traveling.
As one TikTok creator put it: "These people [linemen and women] are arriving in Florida to help repair electrical lines because Hurricane Ian was a complete savage.
"So the men specifically are out here on Tinder," the creator says. "All fun until a wife gets on TikTok saying she saw her [lineman husband] on Tinder and was like 'oh my god, that's my man!'"
True enough, there are dozens of videos of linewives reacting to self-described bucket bunnies on TikTok.
Here's an example of trending TikTok videos on the subject:
The subculture has captivated the internet this week and Newsweek is predicting an inevitable reality TV series about linewives in the future.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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