I have just rented a car-till I get my license changed from a Lebanese one to Jordanian-and have realised a few things as a female driving here.
First I HATE and let me say this again I HATE those workers who sit in the back of the pickups...they just sit there and STARE like they have never seen a woman drive before-and I realise that they must be bored sitting in the back of that car-bas WTF mate-you don't know where to look anymore, if you look straight ahead you start a competition of looking bas not really looking with them-if you look to the side you don't notice that the Ishara has changed.
Second, I was smoking in my car, and I look to my side, and I see this guy nudging the dude next to him and pointing at me...again WTF mate...sho never seen a woman drive, aw is it that they have never seen one smoke...or even more extraordinary a woman who can drive and smoke a ciggie-I realise that men are unable to multi task bas no need to be amazed at our ability to do that!!!!
Third, I decided to stop on the side of the road to answer my mobile (and light another ciggie)-was being overly cautious-and I look to the side to find three fuckwits cracking up that I would do that...I mean seriously!!!!!
I whole heartedly see eye to eye with your frustrations. Whenever I am in Amman, and in the company of a female friend/relative that is driving, I get aggrevated at how people just oggle. I start staring back at them (balkin yist7oo a little) while still trying to hold a normal conversation with my friend. Very aggrevating. My recommendation, and you likely know this, is wear the darkest sunglasses you can possibly find. That way they would be able to meet your eyes even if they wanted to.
ReplyDeleteHang in there and learn to ignore. Good luck.
my!
ReplyDeleteit seems that you complain alot, you will never change a thing, it's either you leave Amman or you get use to it!
most of the daily life in Amman sucks! but, complaining won't help it..
Hi there, I think they just impressed because a woman is driving.
ReplyDeleteSome people are like that, maybe only few women are driving that's why they staring at you,, maybe they are amaze.
Got your link from neoworx.
Have a great week.
Im sure these workers stare, but im not very sure they stare because you're driving, i mean they'ld probably rather you weren't driving!
ReplyDeleteIm currently working on music for a documentary about street harrasment in amman...furstration is a biatch, and ignorance is the devil, and well...i guess rudeness is rudeness...
You are completely write. I find it irritating that we live in the 21st century yet humans of my own gender behave as if living in the stone age.
ReplyDeleteIt is ok for men to do waht they want, yet everything stops when it comes to women.
Most of these men that oggle are sexually repressed and full of insecurities and it is a general trait in men raised in oritental paternal societies.
As a guy the best advice I can give you is to just ignore them. This is what I tell most of the women I know in Amman that face this problem.
why do you feel so frustrated about this, its not about the fact that you are smoking or driving ... its's just the culture... women do that too, you are in a traffic light and a woman next to you wont stop staring....
ReplyDeleteits the amman culture.
when i get annoyed at this stare right back at people and give them a teethy big smile and wave ... like they are my best mates ... try it ... they will just turn away!!! works almost every time !!!
take it with a light sense, nothing you can do about it