“I am conservative I have been to Haj and I pray regularly but it is important to me to break boundaries and be a role model, if that means following your passion.” ~ Yasmin al Ahmad
"Girl on a motorcycle leads pack" is the recent headline that caught our eye in The National, a newspaper based out of Abu Dhabi. The "girl" they are referring to is Yasmin al Ahmad, the only Arab woman in a Harley group, HOG chapter. HH is encouraged to hear about such strides abroad when we read about women having the bravery to step out of traditional social norms despite the backlash; we know that the sacrifice to better themselves not only extends family boundaries, but also into their community and ultimately, globally as well. Our helmets off to you, Yasmin, as you journey through the roads less traveled. Geographical factoid: Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates which neighbors Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Lower Gulf.
Read full story here:
Girl on a motorcycle leads the pack by Tahira Yaqoob
DUBAI // When Yasmin al Ahmad arrives home from work, she slips on an apron, cooks a meal for her husband and scrubs her house clean. Then she puts on a helmet and leather vest, pulls on pair of black leather gloves and kick-starts her motorcycle into roaring action. Her Harley-Davidson, its polished metalwork gleaming in the sun, is as pristine as her home.
That she is a woman in what is predominantly a man’s world does not bother her at all. Syrian-born Ms al Ahmad also has the distinction of being the only Arab woman in the Ladies of Harley, a sub-group set up for the female riders of the Abu Dhabi Harley Owners Group (HOG) chapter.
“Some people dream of a villa in the Maldives but for me, it was a wild dream to own my own Harley,” said the 30-year-old executive assistant.
"Because of the conservative atmosphere in the Arab world I grew up in, I thought it would be impossible. Then after moving to Dubai four years ago, I heard there were women who rode Harleys.
“I had never ridden a motorbike before but loved the noise, the smell of rubber and the idea of being on the open road.”
There were, however, hurdles to overcome befor she could take to the highway. Having bought her own Dh33,000 (US$8,980) Harley Sportster two years ago after taking motorcycle lessons, she then tried to register for a licence. There was a small hitch. While there is nothing in law to stop her from getting the official paperwork, the clerk at the Roads and Transport Authority could not find an option to register her as a “Ms” on his computer screen. Eventually they agreed she could carry the title “Mr” simply to speed up the process. While in Dubai and Abu Dhabi there is no official objection to Emirati women holding a motorbike licence, very few do. In Sharjah they are not permitted. Next was the small matter of telling Ms al Ahmad’s family. They were horrified at the thought of their daughter attracting attention on the road in her leathers, and risking life and limb on a Harley-Davidson a throbbing speed machine weighing more than 225kg on the UAE’s treacherous roads. “I did not tell them at first but, unfortunately, my mother in Syria was watching a programme about a charity motorbike rally in Dubai and spotted me on the screen,” she said. “She was so angry and begged me to stop.” It caused a big row and to this day, she has not told all her relatives.
"Most are shocked because Arab families tend to have a problem with the idea of girls riding and mixing with a group of guys and worry about what the community will think. Bikers wrongly have a reputation as being filthy and dangerous. “It is not seen as a thing girls should get into but, for me, it is a passion and part of my identity. It gives me a sense of freedom. Most people think you lose your femininity but I can be equally girlie; I love high heels and have long hair.
Ms al Ahmad’s mother eventually came round to accepting her hobby three months ago when her daughter met and married a fellow Harley biker, Ahmed Gawad, 33, an Egyptian pharmacist.
Along with her fellow riders, Ms al Ahmad is one of a growing number of Arab enthusiasts devoting hours to their beloved Harley-Davidsons, collecting all the latest memorabilia, poring over magazines featuring the latest models and priming their bikes for their regular group rides.
Source: http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091107/NATIONAL/711069846
Article images: Randi Sokoloff / The National
