Behind the Wheel: Egypt's Women Drivers - Al Jazeera World
189,823
Published 2016-02-24
Um Waleed is one of them. Driven by force of circumstance and the need to make a living, she went down a road that very few other women in the Arab world would contemplate.
This Egyptian woman has been driving for over 30 years and first bought a taxi when her father encouraged her as he had no sons. This kind of work is dominated by men - but the discrimination she's encountered along the way has only her made her more determined.
"When I went to the traffic department to take my test, men were making fun of me. 'Go peel onions and cook cabbage', they said. This just made me more determined. Their comments and the way they looked at me motivated me even more," she says.
Um Samah's husband used to drive a minibus but was diagnosed with glaucoma. Hiring someone else to work the bus was more trouble than it was worth, so she started driving without a licence. After a run-in with the police, she was later able to pass her driving test and now drives the bus legally.
She wouldn't want any of her children to do what she has done because it is so tough, but she has no regrets: "If I could go back in time, I'd do the same thing. This is the only work I can do... I like my job but sometimes I cry, tears run down my face while I drive, because I didn't stay at home like other women do," she says.
Dalia is 20 and decided to drive the family auto-rickshaw because her younger brother was being bothered by other drivers. She drives wearing an abaya to try and cut down on harassment - but that doesn't stop other drivers trying to run her off the road.
"It's not the driving itself. The problem is the people. A day doesn't go by without fighting. I face about 20 fights a day," she says. Away from work, Dalia likes to go to the beauty salon: "I like Dalia when she is not driving the auto-rick because she gets to act like a lady. The Dalia that drives the auto-rick acts more like a man than a woman... I wish I could be a child again and make a fresh start, to become another Dalia. A different Dalia from the one drives an auto- rickshaw," Dalia says.
Um Khaled drives a 36-tonne truck. She was also motivated by the discrimination she felt as a woman taxi driver. Now she says people either love her or hate her. She is proud of what she does and feels more at home in the cab of her truck than she does in her apartment.
She works obsessively, sometimes two months at a time, without taking a day off.
"I'll never stop as long as I can work. I'll continue working until God wants me to stop.... Not just any woman can drive on these roads. The proof is that we don't have female heavy vehicle drivers," she says.
But she does like to dress nicely off duty: "God made me a woman. I need to take care of the way I look and dress, of my appearance. Deep inside, I know I don't live my life like other women. But that doesn't mean I don't have feminine qualities or that I don't act, dress, walk and eat like a lady".
Behind the Wheel follows four remarkable women, battling against the discrimination they experience every day - and constantly trying to reconcile the tension between their work lives and their identities as women.
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All Comments (21)
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Some people are so negative, they are posting negative comments and comparing. Full respect to these women with my folded hands. God bless them.
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These are practical, down to earth women . Just working hard for an income . Truly Respect them. Period.
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Great to see these brave women... Lots of respect from India mumbai
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such brave strong hard working ladies of Egypt ,I love the Egyptians
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Beautiful stories, beautiful, powerful women who decided to take matters into their own hands and chose to not give up on the challenges of life. Bravo.
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I'm an American female truck driver and I'm so proud while I watch this.
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My grandma is egyptian and she is a nurse but she also drives a car
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Very hardworking people hope they doing well by now I have very big restpect for them god bless them
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Al Jazzera is brave to do this project, and it is more brave of these main characters to show themselves to the world. Love your spirits, love your work.
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Love this lady's. But the Dr story it was great. God bless and keep them safe.πππ
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women are hard working every corner of the world, may God protect them
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Love Egypt dan Egyptians... beautiful country dan peoples...from Indonesia
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What an absolutely amazing story. Not only do they inspire the story has touched me very much. Some tough ladies as well! I laughed when that one said she beat all 4 of the guys who tried to rob her.
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she said she stabbed one of the attackers, she is amazing and strong and brave, wow
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Women are mothers and the love for our families make us strong, not exactly like a man, but we try wen we must. Not for vanity or power show, but for necessity!!!Mash allah sister, Allah is behind all we do, all is INshaaAllah!!
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very inspirational stories
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umm waled is awesome I love them all brave strong and eager imagine honest working women and struggling and we in america complaining, what a shame , I wish to hug them all and buy them something nice,, they really touched my heart, when they cried I cried
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I particularly felt for the young woman who drives the Auto-Rickshaw. She is totally unprotected from people harassing her. I couldn't believe that one guy on the street just reached in and grabbed her. At least the other women have some degree of protection from people reaching in and assaulting them. And she said that happens at least 20 times a day. Unbelievable. I shouldn't complain about my life anymore.
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My hats off for those ladies. Wish them all the best
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love and blessings from Canada,I am so inspired
