At a car repair shop in Jeddah, Saudi women are working alongside men, just four years after women were allowed to drive in the kingdom.
Saudi women stormed the world of car repair, which was the preserve of men, after the Petromin Express workshop located on the Red Sea coast in western Saudi Arabia decided to implement the trend that the government is pushing towards opening work fields for men and women in different sectors.
It was not without its difficulties that the women involved entered the male-dominated field in all parts of the world, and of course even more so in the conservative kingdom.
The mechanics talked about the first months in the job, which aroused doubts and concerns for them, while sometimes they were subjected to mistreatment by some customers.
Ghada Ahmed says that an “old man” came to the workshop and ordered all the women out, saying that he did not want them near his car, preferring to deal with a man.
“At first, it’s normal that no one trusts me, because I’m a woman,” explains Ghada, who wore oil-stained white gloves and a long blue coat.
While she struggled to learn the basics like checking engine oil and changing tires, Ghada had times when she wondered if these guys were really right. “I struggled at first, and I would come home sad with swollen hands and cry and say, ‘This job is not for me.’ It seems that what they (the men) are saying is true,” she says.
But as her skills and self-confidence developed, there were clients who would support her. And she continues with joy, “A while ago, a man came and said I am very proud of you. You are our honor. You are a crown on our heads.”
The promotion of women’s rights is among the most prominent points of Vision 2030 launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aims to diversify the economy and change the image of extremism prevailing in the world in the world.
The mechanics told AFP that they would not have started such a demanding profession without the consent of their husbands. Ola Flemban, a 44-year-old mother of four, says she heard about the job on Snapchat and immediately asked her husband, Raafat, if she could apply for the job. He agreed and helped her prepare for the interview by teaching her the names of different auto parts.
After securing the job, Ola quickly surpassed her husband and their 23-year-old son in the skill and knowledge associated with the automotive field. “Now she has experience with different types of cars, how to check them carefully and how to change the oil,” says Raafat Flimban. “She even now checks my car.”
Thanks to her family’s support, it became easier for Ola to deal with customers in the workshop. “At first, they were very surprised that women worked in this field. They would ask us how we liked this field,” she says. “This is the most frequently asked question,” she adds.
While she was speaking to “AFP”, Mishaal, 20, was entering his car into the workshop to change the engine oil. Mishaal admits that he was “shocked” to find that a woman would do the job, but he was largely calm. “As long as they get to this place, they must have trained well,” he says. “Maybe they understand more than me with cars,” he continues, laughing.
Petromin’s vice president says his company was “confident that this initiative will encourage more women to join the automotive sector at all levels.”
Perhaps the most comfortable with the Jeddah Workshop initiative are the female drivers in the city, who feel more comfortable taking their car to a place where women work. “We make women feel comfortable when we work on their cars,” says Angham Jidawi, 30.
She explains, “Some women feel ashamed when they deal with men, they do not know how to discuss with men to find out what is happening with their car. (…) As for us, they discuss and ask a lot.” For Jeddawi, this job was a dream she thought was impossible.
“It was my dream to join the automotive field, but of course, as a Saudi woman, this specialty was not available. So, when the opportunity came, I applied without hesitation, and thank God I was accepted,” she says. She is now studying to take a driving test and to get her driver’s license in a month.
“Now I know the problems that the car can encounter,” Jadawi says, adding: “If I have a problem in the middle of the road, I know how to act.”