Driving While Palestinian (and Female)

Nearing forty hasn't slowed Suna Aweidah down. In fact, she's recently begun speeding up. Earlier this year, Aweidah and nine other Palestinian women decided to stop competing and start working together by forming the first all-woman racing team. They call themselves the Speed Sisters.

Since then, Aweidah and her fellow racers have been getting a lot of international media attention for their stereotype shattering sisterhood. I am uncomfortable with the way much of the news coverage serves to reinforce Western constructions of Muslim women in its presentation of Aweidah and company as exceptional, so I interviewed the team captain about her experiences in the driver's seat.

How did you become involved in race car driving?

I have loved cars and speed since I was young, and I used to play with toy cars with my brothers. I was so happy when the Palestinian Federation established a motor club in 2005, but my family was not happy about me joining because it was mainly for men, and unsafe for women. In 2006 there was a Go-Kart competition in Egypt for women, and the Head of the Federation asked me if I would like to participate. We have no Go-Kart tracks here and I didn't even know what one was, but as soon as he showed me the picture, I told him I would be proud to represent my country there.

So your family let you go?

I had to convince my family that I should go, and thank God I did. We were five Palestinians who knew nothing about Go–Karts. And the first time I drove one was going through Jordan on the way to the competition. There were eighteen girls from Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine in that race. I came in fifth place and was very proud of myself. This showed my family that I could have racing as a hobby, and I have continued competing locally and internationally.

What do you get from racing?

I love to race because I love speed. I feel free when I am alone in the track, and I can drive the speed that I want and the way I want. I want to improve my driving skills and become a stronger competitor.

Do you have your own practice space and equipment?

The British Consulate here has helped us a lot. We practice at a commercial terminal between the West Bank and the Occupied Palestinian territories, and we do our training on the Palestinian side of the terminal parking. For now, we are using our own private cars that we use daily with our family. I hope in the future we will find sponsors that can provide even a simple car so we can train and compete properly. We definitely need more professional equipment and training.

How has racing changed for women during the time you've been involved?

In the beginning it was difficult, but now my family and friends support and encourage me. Some of my friends would love to join the team, but their families refuse. Before we formed the Speed Sisters this past June, we were competing individually and against each other, but now we support each other as a team. This method of working together will help other girls to join because they can convince their families by being a part of an all-female team, which makes it easier for them to accept.

Photo credit: kooklanekookla