Saturday December 31, 2022
A Somali woman driving Tuk Tuk (Auto Rickshaw) in busy Mogadishu. CREDIT: Twitter @hooyoanisa
She throws plumes of dust in the rugged streets of Adado, a tiny town in the semi-autonomous Galmudug region, central Somalia, as she speeds off to work every morning leaving behind pedestrians holding into their cheeks with palms in utter awe.
The 29-year-old Haawo Mohamud Farah, alias Xaawo Jookar, is a tricycle (Tuktuk) taxi driver in a patriarchal society, and country where women are intimidated to venture out of their comfort zones by militant groups.
Mohamud, a mother of five, ventured into this male-dominated field after she was divorced and left with the responsibility of singlehandedly taking care of her young children.
Since she joined the male-dominated industry six months ago, her decision attracted hate and love in equal measures from the town residents, relatives and friends. “The local people could not believe a woman could do this business, and that is why they are amused when they see me driving,” she told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Mohamud joined the highly competitive and male-dominated job after she was divorced by her husband. “I had no option other than looking for any job that will facilitate me to place my family’s needs on the table. It was difficult deciding on becoming a tricycle driver in a town whose community has assigned roles to people based on their gender,” said Mohamud.
She said at the beginning, people avoided her tricycle after noting that the driver is a woman. “People never believed that a woman can drive anything to her destination safely,” Mohamud said.
In Somalia, women are expected to bear children and be home keepers in their community. According to Mohamud, the taxi business is extremely competitive since it is the only one offering sustainable income to the majority of the youth in the town and many parts of the war-ravaged country.
“The taxi business is stiff. At every stage within the town, there are tens of tricycle operators waiting for customers. Whenever a customer approaches, scores of the operators rush to them,” Mohamud said. “As a woman, I cannot jostle for customers with my male counterpart. I will avoid such jostling to save myself from being hurt in the scuffles.”
Mohamud, however, concedes her being a woman has given her some competitive advantages over her male counterparts, adding that women and young customers prefer her over a male operator. “Female clients avoid male operators in my favor to enjoy their privacy, while the young men take a ride on my tricycle for adventure and out of curiosity,” said Mohamud, denoting that she managed to carve a niche in the business for herself by being a trustworthy person and maintaining good hygiene.
Mohamud said despite the challenges, especially during the night by some wayward customers, she enjoys her work since it is helping her cater to household bills.
“My children are getting the best care, the best education, and the best dressing. If I did not join this business I would be begging in the streets or misused by men for a peanut to feed my children,” Mohamud said.