Viewpoints
Road Rage, Intimidation, Women
By Carol Christoffel
January 07, 2008
Monday AM
Ladies, I am sorry to learn of someone attempting to harass you
while driving. I believe that this happens more to females than
to males, as a male feels "comfortable" shouting at
a young woman, or older woman alone. Often the "mad macho"
drivers pick on women because they know that if they did it to
another guy they might just be looking at a fist down their throat!
"This ties in to the idea of the male superiority vs a respectful
treatment of women. Unfortunately there are too many macho drivers
out there these days.
I could not help but think at how this attitude is played out
all over the world. Years ago I was in Bali, Indonesia, which
is dominated by Islamic government. Bali people are islanders
and have their own culture but must deal with western influence
and varying factions. Generally, it was unheard of for women
to drive and everywhere in Bali, men on motorcycles picked up
long skirted women, bearing huge market bundles, who then sat
a lady-like side saddle position on the bikes. How they ever
maintained their balance is a wonder to me, but they did. Cabbies
ferried through masses of people taking tourists to places of
interest. Women were thought to be too "delicate" to
drive, but not so delicate that they could not carry huge bundles
of concrete and work materials, on their heads, to and fro from
construction sites. Go figure!
My cabbie found himself stuck in a mass of traffic ,tourists,
human-drawn carts,trucks and cars. When suddenly a lone woman
DRIVING THE MOTOR BIKE crossed his path. He flew into a rage
and exclaimed, "It's those WOMAN DRIVERS that are messing
us up!" He then went on to opinion that she must be suffering
from a medical hormone imbalance ("too many HORMONES!")
to want to drive!
I found myself laughing at the thought that ONE woman could be
blamed for the hundreds of people and traffic that flooded the
market! Some things never change!
Carol Christoffel
Chicago, IL
About: Former Ketchikan Resident
Received January 05, 2008 -
Published January 07, 2008
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