Progressive women driving change in conservative Afghanistan

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“Although my husband and sons don’t allow me to drive, I prefer to drive and enjoy the practice,” a 42-year-old lady told Xinhua.

Requesting anonymity but revealing her age, the lady said she sees no difference between herself and her husband and sons in supporting the family. In conservative Afghanistan, women, traditionally, are reluctant to reveal their names. Of course, the working ladies and female students have little objection to disclosing their identities.

Driving on a congested road and striving to take the edge from male drivers to reach her destination, the ambitious lady whispered “Male drivers, especially youngsters often disturb females sitting behind the wheel.”

In Afghanistan where tribal tradition is deep-rooted, particularly in rural areas, women prefer to stay at home although they like to receive education.

Availing traditions, the extremist Taliban outfit during its iron reign, toppled by the US-led military invasion in late 2001, had outlawed education for girls and forced women to stay at home.

Before plunging into strife in the 1980s, women in Afghanistan had the right to drive. Even some women used to drive the government-owned electric buses in Kabul city. Since the collapse of the Taliban regime, the status of women has changed in Afghanistan. These days in Afghanistan women are involved in politics, business and economic development as well as art and music.

However, driving vehicles is gradually becoming more popular among women in Afghanistan. A couple of years ago, women were rarely seen to drive in Kabul or other cities, but nowadays, woman drivers attract male attention everywhere in Kabul cities.

Women are increasingly often seen sitting next to a driver and learning the skills necessary for driving.

Driving schools also provide training to females intending to learn how to drive in the capital city Kabul and in the western Herat city. “My objective of driving is to break up the old tradition and demonstrate the ability that women like men can drive and can work outside home,” the 42-year-old lady told Xinhua.

There are no legal obstructions for women to drive in Afghanistan and the traffic police issue licenses to women after examination. “Whenever my husband and my sons are out of home, I am driving, taking my girls to shopping and to the health clinic,” the progressive lady went on to say in her discussion with Xinhua while stuck in a traffic jam on a recent drive.

She also admitted that she doesn’t have a driving license but has planned to obtain one if her husband agrees.

A lady trainee, Sediqa, also told Xinhua she wants to learn to drive and drive to her university after getting her license.