Afghanistan's Only Female Taxi Driver Helps Steer Social Change by Teaching Women How to Drive

Sara Bahai ,40, Afghanistan's only female taxi driver still vividly remembers the first time she got behind the wheel.

"I felt like I was in the sky, and I totally fell in love with driving," she said and from that point on, there was no turning back. It was 2001 and shortly after the Taliban forces were removed from power by the US-led invasion.

Bahai continues to defy tradition in a deeply conservative society where women are generally seen as an inferior to men and are discouraged from pursuing jobs outside of home. Sara's decision to become a driver was borne more out of her need to support her family rather than stand as a symbol of gender equality.   

She never married over fears that her husband would prevent her from working. She looks after her parents and siblings and also adopted two children who are now in highschool.

When the Taliban killed her brother-in-law, she started supporting her sister's family, which includes seven nephews and nieces as well. Today, Sara looks after a dozen people in her household with the money she generates from being a taxi driver.

Being the only female driver in the country, she has been repeatedly threatened and advised against continuing in her profession. She drives a yellow-white Toyota Corolla in the streets of Mazar-i-Sharif with a lucky talisman on her front window.

"I receive threats from unknown callers who tell me to not drive in the city because I am a woman, because it is against Islam. Some tell me that if I continue to work as a taxi driver they will kill me," she said.

She goes on to add, "Male passengers are very jealous and often abuse me, but I don't care what they think of me, I am not afraid. I will change the country with whatever ability I have to do so."

Even as gender equality has been advocated through constitution, the Afghani community has been slow to embrace changes. At the same time, there is cause for hope with millions of women attending schools today and many of them, do go on to pursue graduate education.

Sara received her driver's license in 2002 and is also qualified mechanic. She now teaches other women to drive in the hopes that they can carve out their own futures and usher in positive change.

"They are building the confidence to live independently. Step by step everything is going to be all right," she says. "My message for Afghan women is to stand up for yourselves, set goals and achieve them, and help to make Afghanistan a happy place to live."