SOHÊR EL-IDLIBÎ

Idlib – Women of Idlib struggle in every part of life against gender biases while struggling against armed groups such as ISIS, war conditions, economic crises. We spent a day with women taking the wheel in the city despite all the social pressures they have faced.

It is almost impossible to see a woman behind the wheel in Idlib. But 32-year-old Sana El Ebûd is one of few women taking the wheel in the city. She encourages the women of Idlib to drive in order to challenge gender biases. Sana El Ebûd works with human rights organizations in the city. She told us that she prefers to drive due to the limited number of public transport vehicles in the city.

“Our society thinks only men can drive”

Pointing out that driving is not easy for women due to gender biases in society, Sana El Ebûd said, “Because women face many difficulties when they drive in the city. Our society thinks only men can drive. I try to break this bias.”

“Female drivers are harassed even at checkpoints!”

Stating that she is harassed even at checkpoints, Sana El Ebûd said, “When they see that the driver is a woman, they stop the car. They first ask me simple questions such as ‘Why are you in the car alone without a man? Where are you going?’ and then they keep me at the checkpoint for hours.”

Reham doesn't care about people’s strange glances

28-year-old Reham Hamdan no longer cares about the people’s strange glances and harassment she faces while driving. “I don’t want to see their glances saying ‘I should be ashamed of driving’ anymore. We should break such biases,” she told us.

“I feel free independent the pressure”

Reham Hamdan also faces harassment while driving. “The one who is blamed is me because I am a woman. I learned how to drive two years ago after I lost my husband in a car accident because I have to look after my children alone. Despite the pressure I have faced, I feel independent while driving.”

40-year-old Maha El Hasûn is a woman actively working for NGOs in Idlib.  She thinks that driving cars gives women self-confidence to use many other skills.