I like driving. It makes me feel good and it gives me a sense of independence. I like the fact that I don’t have to rely on anyone else for anything. 

If I want to go to my friends’ house, I drive. If I want to try out a new restaurant, I drive. If I want to go shopping, I drive. 

But, as a female driver, I feel I am judged because apparently, in our society women are considered to be bad drivers.

Just the other day, I had found a tight parking space that needed me to reverse park. 

But, even before I could put the gear on reverse the parking guy said “madam aap mujhe de dijiye, aap nahi kar payenge” (Ma’am let me reverse, you won’t be able to do it). 

I reversed anyway and proved the sexist statement wrong.

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The next day, while waiting at the traffic signal, a bike halted next to my car and, before driving off, the two riders unanimously shouted ‘ladkiyon ko gaadi nahi, ghar chalana chahiye’.

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And this is just me, so you can imagine what other women drivers face. We are living in the 21st century and I still don’t understand why it’s a big deal if a woman is seen driving a four-wheeler?

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This mindset also has a lot to do with the fact that women are seen as bad drivers. And, these tweets are proof. 

But, what people conveniently seem to forget is that driving is a skill set that is learnt and no matter how good or bad you are at it, it has nothing to with your gender. As simple as that.  

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There are men who drive rashly and indulge in road rage but no one has ever said ‘All men are rash drivers’, right? Then, why are women drivers generalised? 

I don’t need to prove my driving skills to anyone except the person who is responsible for approving my license. 

And, with regards to the whole ‘women can’t drive’ thing, I just want to say that a study conducted in 2018 revealed that women are better drivers than men.

And, while there are some who still love stereotyping all women as bad drivers, there are a few who strongly disagree with them.

Look, all I am saying is, no one should tell anyone what they can or cannot do based on their gender. It’s just not fair. 

If I know how to drive, I bloody hell will drive, irrespective of whether I am a female or a male. Okay?