Why Gaza should have more female taxi drivers
A Palestinian mother of five has broken all norms and traditions in the Gaza Strip by becoming the first female taxi driver in the besieged enclave.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Naela Abu Jubba, 39, has decided to take a profession that has long been restricted to men in the Gaza Strip. She has become the first female taxi driver in Gaza.
Jubba aspires to open her own private taxi services office for female customers only. In a male-dominated society that rarely accepts women in many professions, she gets her share of criticism.
Al-Monitor spoke to Jubba, who holds a bachelor’s degree in social services and until recently worked as a human development trainer. “I first thought about becoming a taxi driver because of the suffering women face when using taxi services with male drivers, especially when they leave hairdressing and makeup salons. Most of the women here wear the veil and do not go out wearing makeup, so they are forced to wear an abaya or niqab to cover their faces returning home.”
She added, “This does not end here, as some women are not allowed to even speak in the taxi driven by a man, nor do they feel comfortable and safe.”
