Certain news stories just make me go crazy and this is one of them!
The Daily Mail has an interesting article about a Hasidic sect in the UK banning women drivers. That’s bad enough, but children driven to school by their mothers are being turned away from learning!
According to the leaders of this Belz sect, it’s an issue of modesty. To most everyone else, it’s obviously an issue of power and control—similar to the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.
Personally, I think it’s awful when religion is twisted in this way. There is no law in the Torah banning women from driving. Women need freedom of movement just as men do—to buy groceries, visit the doctor, pick up children, and fulfill other necessities of life.
While most modern women of all religions are able to drive, just a few generations ago that wasn’t the case. My own grandmother didn’t get a license until she was 40 years old and it was only due to my grandfather being hospitalized long term. Because she didn’t start driving until later in life, she never really caught on, and was always full of fear behind the wheel.
I believe any woman that wants to learn should be able to drive, same as she should be taught to read or swim. We need educated, empowered women, not abused dependents.
How do you feel about banning women drivers?
Yes, I too believe that women should drive, while I also believe that we be open-minded enough to recognize that some people could really see it as immodest and if we want to present it otherwise it is our responsibility to do so respectfully as we would want others to do to us when our views differ.
While I definitely respect other people’s views, I truly don’t see how driving is immodest for women.
I agree. Women should have the right to drive. I don’t see it as being immodest at all. Great information here. Thanks!