Behind the Wheel: Egypt's Women Drivers - Al Jazeera World
Ойын-сауық
In the heart of Egypt's bustling capital Cairo, only very few female taxi drivers brave the unforgiving traffic.
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.
- Subscribe to our channel: bit.ly/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: / ajenglish
- Find us on Facebook: / aljazeera
- Check our website: www.aljazeera.com/
Пікірлер: 200
Some people are so negative, they are posting negative comments and comparing. Full respect to these women with my folded hands. God bless them.
Great to see these brave women... Lots of respect from India mumbai
These are practical, down to earth women . Just working hard for an income . Truly Respect them. Period.
such brave strong hard working ladies of Egypt ,I love the Egyptians
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.
I'm an American female truck driver and I'm so proud while I watch this.
My grandma is egyptian and she is a nurse but she also drives a car
Very hardworking people hope they doing well by now I have very big restpect for them god bless them
Love this lady's. But the Dr story it was great. God bless and keep them safe.💜💜💜
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.
Love Egypt dan Egyptians... beautiful country dan peoples...from Indonesia
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.
women are hard working every corner of the world, may God protect them
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
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!!
very inspirational stories
love and blessings from Canada,I am so inspired
@dhuuxo5547
6 жыл бұрын
Dave Nix long live to blood Canada.
One of the most dangerous things todo in Egypt is crossing the road. Drivers on phone, changing sim, not concentrating on road, hence all the accidents.
Fantastic story about brave and strong women. Really like the footage of the city.
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.
@theonefromk7602
4 жыл бұрын
kstater!
@97I30T
4 жыл бұрын
@@theonefromk7602 That's right! I love KState. I really miss Manhattan.
@theonefromk7602
4 жыл бұрын
@kent yeah wish i could visit. graduated in 2017. wonder how the town is doing now
she said she stabbed one of the attackers, she is amazing and strong and brave, wow
My hats off for those ladies. Wish them all the best
More blessings to the women in this story and others like them around the world!
I am a Man from Dallas Texas and just came across this video. I LOVE these Mighty Women of Egypt. God BLESS you ALL!
RESPECT! I admired all these amazing women
I love theese woman doing what women know how to do and thats to survive ,, I respect and love theese woman
Ma Shaa Allah TabarakAllah.. So much respect to all sisters.. #Salute
MashALLAH brave respectable Muslim Womens.may ALLAH bless u more
Wow as a real man i felt so proud of these woman love my woman that is willing to and give their best in spite of level of education
Kudos to these women!! They are fighting adversity by proving to those men they can do a better job than them, and no resorting to insults. This is what feminism is about.
I live by a simple phrase when it comes to women empowerment. If I can't help women towards achieving their goals. I will not stand in their way. Well done ladies.
Great women, brave, dignified & as strong as lioness with courage & freedom .monetary freedom is necessary for women.
respect to Egypt women's
@senasena1496
7 жыл бұрын
Hamed Berahmandi very kool
Mash'Allah, energetic one... bravo... on the other side everyone have some sad pulses.. so its okay. just chill. and be positive.. Love from Pakistan.
Amazing super stars!!!👏👏👏👏👏💕💕💕💕
I am so proud of you...#egyptian ^_^
@deddysutrisno1953
3 жыл бұрын
Love u from Indonesian
Such lovely women, thoroughly enjoyed watching this.
Great video! I have a lot of respect for this hardworking woman! I see a lot of woman who only complain About life, But this is also a way how it can be
respect from a Sikh punjab
@tiniziyatinizi55
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks brother
Great ladies! My deepest respect.
Great ladies! Please show the way to other women.
Beautiful story
this is amazing
VERY PRETTY WOMEN BOUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES
I just love these women ...my beloved sisters in Islam .💖💖💖 I am your brother i wish i could help you...but Allah is enough for us .
So nice to see Egypt at peace. We only see the bad on U.S. news. Love Al Jazeera!
can someone tell me how I can reach these woman id like to send them something from America , there amazing and so strong , I admire them greatly..
@sjbilsalgsj9276
5 жыл бұрын
i want too but dont know sister how to do any way we can prey for them (all r great woman )
@seeker119
5 жыл бұрын
Contact aljazeera
@ahmedeeqnur4047
5 жыл бұрын
Contact aljazira office they find out her contact number
@johnmguzman7491
4 жыл бұрын
I read your comment about wishing to reach out to these powerful, independent Muslim women. Were you able to connect with them?
Brave and lovely women! I like all of them!
very Brave women!!
Very nice showcase.
Good luck to all of them
I salute for them. They're really brave women 😘
@hasnahassani2892
3 жыл бұрын
Je suis tout d accord avec toi
Thanks Aljezeera... what a Beautiful Story, God Bless These Women...
Wow I got goosbumps...My love and respect to them. Allah bless you...
I am from pakistan but some women in pakistan are taxi driver and rickshaw driver but maybe all this is common in egypt but salute their hard work
All respect and admiration to all of you
I pray to Allah (swta) for the success and safety of these sisters, I was a truck driver in a western country for at least 28 years and most of that time an over the road driver always on long journeys far away from family and friends, it is not easy as a man and I can not even imagine what these sisters are going through.
Respect 💐💐 🌹
Truly Egypt is ahead in so many ways. From Female Pharaohs down to Cleopatra and to the modern tough lady drivers. Bravery runs in Egyptian women's veins.
So much respect for those women
these women are awesone😊
Wow. That woman's uncle was more concerned about his niece embarassing the family but what about her safety at least!! Uncle was a pos.
i got problems to watch videos on your website, guess loading speed is pretty slow, so thanks for uploading this on here.
awesome
Hats off to this brave and hardworking women
well, i must salute the courage of these women. in most muslim countries women are denied of equal opportunity and egypt is one of them, so these women must be very brave to break the traditional confines.
These brave women they are trying to make a living and support their families nothing wrong with it, but some Arab countries thru still back word mentally
mashaallah..Allah may help them and protect them and all other sisters too.amen
Speechless just speechless
really relaxing watching this
ماشاءالله' على أخت المصريه وآلله العينها
you know what i was thinking about? that the woman who was selling fish in 47:30 has a story too
@azelo7952
5 жыл бұрын
ⵙⵉⵔⵉⵏ ⵙⵓⵀⵉⵍⴰ watch Egypt’s women street vendors on aljazeera too
great work....keep it up....
أنا فخور بكم أخواتي المحترمات.❤️💛💚💙
I love those ladies for their doing good job let no one stop you good job
great women I love you all
@senasena1496
7 жыл бұрын
CHUKWU EBUKA kool
Such strong and inspirational women! I pray that they all find favor with God and are blessed with peace, joy, fortune and health!
God bless you all your family
I remember driving here in the USA were "freedom " is to be equal, I got harassed a lot, I was told I must be fat and dirty over radio, so I never turned it on unless I needed help with directions or to listen to weather. I drove for a while with my hijab, that one time driving in highway over radio one driver told other drivers I just saw a woman driving with a rag on her head, a rag??? I answered, "it is a hijab, a scarf, head cover, catholic women wear them as well. Jewish women wear them, good women descent wore them here in US too, it was and is still a fashion, so why is it different for me to wear it?? After a while I stopped wearing it from family telling me its better not to, and my ex husband dr Abbas used said women look like dogs wearing hijab and long dresses. Really??? Freedom means we have opinions, choices, and that includes how we choose to dress and wear our head dress??
@saso4958
5 жыл бұрын
Then you belong in Egypt where you can wear your Jihab, and from the looks of it you won't get treated any better. These women in Egypt get treated worst then you in the USA.
Mashallah respect and salam to all of them. Hardworking and helping family and nation positively.
Hats off those ladies..
Wow thanks for that video; Bravo for those ladies; good example; don’t give up if you’re determined to do something: me to I’ll be taking my test for school bus driving.... thanks.
You all are great sisters salute to you all God bless you all.
Please do not misunderstand its not about power!! its about surviving this society cause our men sometimes need help, or we need help cause they leave us with the children and no support, they leave us for different reasons, that includes death, so it is not their fault either. its not competition its survival!!! cause lets face we are under paid in any profession
@user-bv6hn7my3y
3 жыл бұрын
sheltomo no one said that men are better than women
Sisters I am very proud of you, if the men can't take good care of you, than do for yourselves. And don't let anything stop you. Powerful and beautiful women. Al-hamdulilah.
even if i m hungry i keep smile amazing woman
I'm very respect any women l love so much all I'm From Somali 💕💝❤💯♥️💖
بسم الله ماشاء الله
I am amazed by the hard working girls of Egypt
The men who harassed this woman are cowards
These are truly some badass women god bless them 🤍
😀😁😊😉😆🥰🤗 I'm so happy for you all.
I have to only one word.... All of them are mothers.... Situation makes them to do Driving Salute to these ladies...
Hats off to those women trying to earn and do the best for their families in a men's world.Very inspirational stories.
Bravo
Hardworking woman
respect
My admiration to all these woman.
I'm so glad women are treated an equal to men in Egypt I wished for all countries would treat women as equal to men.Good job ladies❤️💗💖💕💓💞❣️🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲👍👌✌️👍👍I'm from the United States from Arkansas I'm so happy for you ladies but be careful it's a lot of things in the world. Blessings to you all. You ladies is showing you are equal to men and smart as well or smarter.
Well done for these women👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻