The taxicab sister!

By: Qwaider

On:Thursday, August 07, 2008 10:03:24 PM
In:Thoughts
Viewed: (4651) times

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Rated 4.5/5 stars (85 votes cast)

I had a huge grin on my face today as I stepped foot in a taxicab and greeted the driver with "Assalamu Alikom". The conservatively dressed Hijabi sister replied back, "Waalikom Al Salam". I couldn't have been more proud of her. She was confident, cheerful and an excellent driver.

It's not a usual thing to see a lady driving a cab, not only that, but she was also proudly wearing her Hijab and dealing with everyone without feeling it represented a handicap or anything.

Now I'm not promoting Hijab or anything, but somehow I felt the lady's identity, her pride and how she took her job very seriously.

This whole event wouldn't have registered at all had this lady not been wearing a Hijab. But it did register and it got me to think and consider what was going around me.

I started to think how it would feel for her, and how she has to deal with many people who look at her and see nothing but her Hijab and how it may represent a menacing symbol to them.

All of this didn't really stop the lady or create an obstacle for her, she was determined to succeed at this job and make her skills speak for themselves.

And I believe, she's so successful at it! She proved to me that there isn't any job that women can't do. Now if just more women would get into Computer Science!!

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« No prayer for the nail polisher!

Long distance secret! »

Memories....

#1
Khaled
Said
On: 8/7/2008 10:31:34 PM

Ah, you remind me of London, there were quite alot of hijab wearing women, but most would be Pakistanis so we'd never be able to communicate. :P

#2
Jerusalem
Said
On: 8/7/2008 11:23:16 PM

I just love this lady's attitude and wish all Mulsim women either wearing or having thoughts of wearing hijab could have such a strong character full of pride and confidence about hijab :)

#3
Moey
Said
On: 8/7/2008 11:28:21 PM

I know a woman, a CS freak! she is mad man! those are usually super smart and geeky.

#4
Maro
Said
On: 8/7/2008 11:49:51 PM

Yeah Moey, Crazy Arab Girl sure is a freak

#5
za3tar
Said
On: 8/8/2008 12:35:18 AM

Wow .. this is so cool. I am so proud of her even though i have never met her and probably never will. People like that who are not afraid of stereotypes or obstacles are just amazing. Really wow.

As for women in CS, ahhh that'd be pretty good. At least there'll be more people that understand my quirks :-)

#6
Shaher
Said
On: 8/8/2008 1:59:59 AM

I really envy her courage and her great personality.. it's really rare that you find a women working as a taxi driver, so wearing Hijab and working is really great. and about women getting into the computer world !! I guess they better not, coz I have a feeling that they would be really stupid !! :)

#7
Batoul
Said
On: 8/8/2008 4:51:55 AM

She defines strength to me in a whole new way.. mashAllah.

#8
KJ
Said
On: 8/8/2008 9:36:00 AM

She's awesome! Good for her :D

#9
Jano
Said
On: 8/8/2008 12:23:34 PM

I'll tell how she feels, its the same as i felt when i went to NY for couple of weeks to work/training. A NOC engineer Lady (They dont have it there), who loves her job, Muslim and proud, came all the way from Jordan to NY first time and by her own, good at her work and they are proud of it just as she is, and also, Wearing Hijab. walking down the street in NY, stopped by some strangers to tell her how nice this is. going from NY to cali also by her own to meet her family there. going back to Jordan with more experience leaving everyone amazed to the point that they offered her to work in NY for couple of years.

That Taxicab sister is very proud of herself and love to show her True Islam to everyone.

Reminds me of Shania Twain song, "She's not just a pretty face" :)

#10
Hani Obaid
Said
On: 8/10/2008 1:43:43 AM

I heard about her, but never saw her eventhough I ride cabs every day. Some poeple say there's only one in all of Amman!

I think in Jordan at least, a woman cab driver with a hijab would do much better than one without.

It's not that women can't do all the jobs, in many cases they're too smart to get into those specialties.

Statistically most Surgeons are male, because the amount of hours and crazy amount of work needed to become a succesful surgeon isn't too much for women to handle, but they're too smart to cope with it whent they have an alternative, so they prefer specialties like pediatrics, and dentistry.

It is men who need to learn from women I think!

#11
al.
Said
On: 8/10/2008 7:39:17 PM

Wow, I'm always thrilled when I hear about strong inspirational women like that. If I got into the cab with her, I'd probably be so proud I'd ask her for a hug (I'm female btw lol). Some of the brightest women I know are hijabis who are determined to show the world that they're all about brains and personality. Loving it!

#12
Um Omar
Said
On: 8/13/2008 12:13:30 PM

You go girl! Where the heck are the hijabi taxi drivers in Amman? At least she could only pick up women and we would feel safe to ride with her. That would be a wonderful thing. (Unfortunately, a lot of women drivers in Amman don't have the guts to confront the men in ways of driving. We need some female offensive driver training here.)