Jordan’s female taxi drivers crash through stereotypes
Nisaa FM: - A group of women in Jordan are defying gender roles for a career on the road. While it is not easy working in a male-dominated sector, the country’s female taxi drivers are willing to challenge the naysayers in order to do the job they love.
“It’s a beautiful job because of the relationships you form and the freedom that comes with it,” says taxi driver Hiba al-Sharu.
In Jordan a pink taxi sign signifies a woman-friendly service
The only difference between Hiba al-Sharu and her male counterparts is the color of the sign that sits atop her taxi – hers is pink, a symbol for a woman-friendly service in a country dominated by men. She is one of 10 women who have become some of the first female taxi drivers in Jordan.
Al-Sharu became a taxi driver in March 2016 after her friend told her about a new female-driven service. CEO of Taxi al-Moumayaz Eid Abu al-Haj says the reason for creating the initiative was twofold: to give women the chance to work in the male-centric transportation sector and to provide female riders with a more comfortable option.
“People think it’s odd,” says al-Haj. “But I try to prove that there’s nothing wrong with it. There’s no difference between a woman driving a normal car or a taxi.”
The opportunity came at the perfect time for al-Sharu. Despite holding a bachelor’s degree in business administration, the divorced mother of one had been struggling to find a decent job with a stable salary, health insurance and social security benefits. Taxi driving gives her all of that plus the ability to design her own schedule and to earn an additional income in the form of tips. She is happy about her decision to work on the road.
But not everyone is supportive of al-Sharu’s new career path. “The Middle Eastern mentality doesn’t accept that I’m a taxi driver,” she says.
Women in Jordan have a difficult time breaking out of the traditional female role. Working outside the home is discouraged in some families. And for women who do work, being a fully functioning member of the labor force is not easy since they are expected to also continue taking sole responsibility for the household.
Not everyone approve of the women’s careers
In addition to working odd hours, taxi drivers must be alone in their cars with strangers – including men – for long periods of time. It is an uncomfortable combination in a society where, traditionally, women are thought to bring shame to their family and culture if they do something that could be perceived as promiscuous. While Jordan is among the more progressive of the Arab nations, harassment of women is commonplace, especially of those who are considered to be engaging in indecent or abnormal behavior.
Al-Sharu recounts one disturbing incident in particular: Once two male passengers refused to pay after instructing her to drive aimlessly around the city. After she realized they were mocking her, a verbal argument ensued and the fight turned physical. “The window was open and one of them grabbed a long stick from outside the car, and then he began hitting the meter with it,” she recalls. “It’s because I’m a woman.”
But it’s not only strangers who take issue with her line of work. “My father is still not happy. He is ashamed,” she says. “But I don’t care. This is my life, not his life.”
While al-Sharu is able to defy the men in her family, not all women in Jordan have that option. The country’s patriarchal laws and cultural traditions deny women full equality. Women cannot pass citizenship on to their children, for example, or legally marry without permission from either a male blood relative or the court. The male guardianship system still dictates many aspects of everyday life.
Hiba al-Sharu tries to challenge the traditional female role: “My advice to women is to break the stereotype.” Becoming a taxi driver might not seem like much of a revolution, but she thinks it could help inspire a new reality for women in Jordan wanting to free themselves from the confines of their gender roles.
“We’re not stealing; we’re not doing anything bad. We’re helping people and providing a service,” she says of herself and her fellow female taxi drivers.
Source: www.newsdeeply.com