Yes! She loves to drive

Women now-a-days have broken barriers of stereotypes, making themselves on par with men, and they have made driving most common routine of their life. Every woman wishes to do something different and challenging. Driving can be listed as one of the challenging things that a woman aspires to take up in her life. Evidently, the recent Saudi’s decision on cancelling the ban on women driving has made women there to achieve something that they were waiting for since years. 

Speaking about how it feels to drive R Swetha a primary school teacher at Geetanjali High School says, “Riding a bike is a feeling of freedom for me.  I feel powerful and in charge of every aspect of me because that “self” is a woman which is a great experience being one.  I love riding a bike I have a set of mixed feelings which makes me feel unique always.”

However, despite Indian women having no law stopping them from driving, when spoken to women who drive, one realises that the stereotypical mindset of how women are bad drivers has not yet changed. Even today every woman is judged the way she drives a vehicle. There are trolls and memes made up on women who drive. 

On the other hand, driving a car or riding a bike portrays empowerment of women.  Appreciating these women who have learned to be on their own would have been an encouragement for them. 

Speaking about one of her experience an MNC employee R Vinaya said, “For me every time I ride a bullet or drive a car the only question that triggers my mind is - ‘Why should boys have all the fun’. I feel that I chase the wind with my speed when I ride a bike. Driving a car makes me feel that I am watching aquatic life in a submarine. It is an experience where my heart always shouts with joy - Zindagi na milehe dobara.”

Though women are mocked or trolled about their driving there are studies that prove that women are less rash on the road, pay more heed to traffic rules and are less likely to drink and drive. While we make no such definitive claims, we also can't help but wonder how this detrimental stereotype of women being bad drivers gets perpetuated despite the emergence of studies to smash it.

This is a matter of increased concern in the context of women entering the workplace as professional drivers, more so since the space is monopolised by men. Given that it is difficult to find equality even in the absence of a targeted and specific prejudice in the workplace, what chance do women stand in fields where they have to fight before they get started? Despite an increasing awareness around diversity, and some commitment to hire women wherever possible amongst corporates, this trend is far from visible where women drivers are concerned.

D Sheba who is a B.Sc student shared that riding a bike makes her feel supreme. “I leant how to drive a car and ride a bike, there is no better feeling when you have a control over something. If I get a chance I would even love to ride a bullet when get a chance to do so.”

Malathi, an employee of an MNC says, “It is very important for a woman to drive. It gives her confidence, and independence that she needs. However, the prejudice is strong against women who drive. One needs to understand that bad drivers may be male or female. One cannot generalize and dismiss all women. You see expert and sensible driving when women are at the wheel.