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The struggle of being a female car mechanic in Kuwait

Found this interesting article on Reddit about a female mechanic in Kuwait. A female mechanic is a rare sight anywhere in the world so you can imagine how difficult it must be being a female mechanic in Kuwait.

Being a Female Car enthusiast is tough, especially since it’s a male dominant field. But you know when it becomes even more tougher? Being a Female Car Enthusiast, in Kuwait.

In Kuwait, “mechanic” and “girl” are not mutually exclusive states of existence. In fact, the number of girls I personally know who are interested in cars and mechanics, is next to zero. It’s not to say that they don’t exist, because they do, and some of them are getting up there. Girl Street Racers, Drifters, Dragsters, Motorcyclists., and a couple of others who also work in this line of work/own autoshops. However, they are, we are, the minority. Being a female in Kuwait is hard enough. But being a Car Enthusiast and a female. Is even more harder.

Check out the full post on her blog Autoholics 965 [Here]

46 replies on “The struggle of being a female car mechanic in Kuwait”

She’s not a mechanic, she’s an enthusiast. She doesn’t work as a mechanic, she just knows how to fix cars (her own). Now if she was actually a mechanic working in an autoshop, well that would really be something. I’d let her change my oil.

I’m not sure what you think a mechanic exactly means but according to her post she says she’s a mechanic:

“I, by occupation, am a Mechanic. I studied it for two years, I studied the theory. I’ve done the practical. I ran a full restoration project on my 1965 Chevrolet Impala. I’ve taken apart and put together engines.”

And according to dictionary.com a mechanic is:

me·chan·ic [muh-kan-ik]
1. a person who repairs and maintains machinery, motors, etc.: an automobile mechanic.
2. a worker who is skilled in the use of tools, machines, equipment, etc.

So not sure why you think she’s not a mechanic. Yes she’s a car enthusiast and so am I, but I can’t change the oil of my car while she did a complete restoration job on hers. Thats what makes her a mechanic.

Mark had a 65 Impala, sweet I had a 69 Impala all original with glass packs (exhausts that made a loud noise) and used to drop the glass packs on guys, ahhh the memories but I sold it after some dumb female ran into me and crashed it. Unfortunately I lost my feelings for that car so I sold it and bought an all original 84 Cadi coupe.

Then I went from low riders to rice racers, the ex left me his 1994 Toyota Supra 6-speed twin turbo, yellow MKIV with Greddy body kit, exhaust, intercooler and rims. I used to carry the NOS bottle when he raced the quarter mile in Cali but I sold that and moved to Kuwait.

I went to the Road Rush for ladies last weekend, they were cute little girls in Chanel and platform high top sneakers driving go-karts but the track is awesome, who wants to race?

Cars are better than men.

well, I change my oil. I did (with help from a friend) a “partial” rebuild of my old engine by taking it out from underneath, changed the piston rings, grinding the valves, changing timing belts, etc.

but that is NOT my profession, nor have I “studied” (like from a school or a course) for it, nor do I get an income from it.

So does that qualify me as a ‘mechanic’, or an ‘enthusiast’.?

even “mechanics” refer to repair manuals (no, not the service manual you find in your glove box) as “guide”.

way to go and keep doing what you do. 🙂 let the haters hate, just don’t forget to leave treadmarks on their faces.

ya 3ami khallas not everywhere everything is possible. Don’t exaggerate on every bit of a thing. Its not that I am against it, but not everything can be relevant in a country.

“ya 3ami khallas not everywhere everything is possible” Except there’s nothing in Kuwait that should make it impossible? There’s no law against it. I don’t get what your issue is

This law could never be applied as it would cost the prices of new and especially used cars to plummit. Most of the car businesses would go out of business. Also, the commander of the faithful A.fatah is not in any position to decree any laws, there is a parliament for a reason.

Please shoot me.

There are actually people who think she shouldnt follow her passion.

The girl loves being a mechanic, so let her be a mechanic. Why does everything have to be governed by “it hasnt been there before, so lets not introduce it”.

Screwed up way of thinking.

I applaud this young girl.

Loving it :), Congratulations to the female mechanic.. Also I’m digging the name Autoholics965. Also don’t get put down by the stereo types.. I have the same passion for restoring old classic cars. Salute to you 🙂

I don’t have no issue. Its good that he is bringing this up to his blog. But there are certain things which is not applicable in every country not that there is any rule against it.

Why wouldn’t this be acceptable? Are you a woman (I’m assuming based on your name)?

Leave it to you to bring a girl down, huh? Haters. Smh.

I don’t work as a mechanic, but I was a few classes away from being certified as one when I left the States. I used to love spending weekends in the junk yard, pulling parts for my old car and then working on it myself. Yes, I am a car enthusiast and proud of it. I’ve helped a lot of male friends here purchase used cars because I’m good at troubleshooting (and I used to sell used cars, so I know the tricks).

I imported my car to Kuwait (300ZX twin turbo, manual 5 speed) and when it arrived, I worked on it in front of my apartment building. It was the last time I worked on a car in Kuwait because I actually felt violated. I hadn’t noticed, but a crowd had gathered; there was a group of men standing across the street, smoking cigarettes and staring at me. Ok, so the year was 1997 (when most women here wouldn’t even DRIVE a sports car), but still… EEEEEWWWWWW.

I gots to be honest, though: although I loved working on cars, it is so cheap and easy here to get mechanic work done, that I just got lazy. I can go from a shop to a salon. Why bother doing it myself?

I applaud WOMEN (not girls – come on!) like the above. If you love something, do it.

I remember back in the 1990s I saw a report on Kuwait TV about a couple who owned a garage in Shwaikh. They both worked in the shop themselves. I also remember that they said the shop was popular among female customers because of the woman mechanic. I wonder what happened to that place.

I have no idea why she is saying its hard.
many public girl schools have auto mechanical courses, i never had that in high school! 🙁
also there is a huge group of female car enthusiasts, RoadRush, they just did a nice program on the local track. there also many many many other female car groups, i barely scratched the surface!

Its very nice that she is interested in cars. But saying that its hard to be a girl car enthusiast in kuwait is just absurd.

Hey there! Hope you’re doing alright. To my knowledge Kuwaiti PUBLIC schools do not have auto mechanical courses. I am familiar with roadrush! I haven’t met them personally or been affiliated with them in anyway but I am so proud of what they are doing. If you have read my post, I do acknowledge that they are other females here who are car enthusiasts! I never said there wasn’t. (Haven’t heard of any groups though).

However what I am speaking about comes from personal experiences. What I’ve seen and dealt with, for me? It is a struggle. It’s hard being here because I’ve actually been through countless situations where I am told I shouldn’t be driving the types of cars I drive because they aren’t for “girls.” Or I shouldn’t been in an autoshop or anywhere in Shuwaikh because it’s basically a dude area and that you will (and I did) get harassed.

not sure if you’ll read this very late reply lol
I’m good, thanks. About the auto mechanical courses I’ve seen many pictures in newspapers (but not very explicit)

As for your personal experiences i highly recommend that you venture out and find female groups, you made an excellent start by creating a group.
and don’t view what others tell you as a “struggle” its just opinions, nothing more.

Women should work at home and not leave the door step …. We moved forward …
Women shouldn’t drive cars …. We moved forward …
Women shouldn’t be pilots …. We moved forward …

If she likes being a mechanic and wants to work as a mechanic good for her.

-i just woke up … drinking coffee..
-clicked mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com from favorite list
once i saw the picture of this post, her ((SUIT)) knocked out my head, it reminds me that my annual leave just finished & my night duty starts tomorrow night, i will become a zombie next 6 nights,,who creeps around with radio to close/open valves in the plant.

this is the best video meets my expression https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS0fIkd96_g

-removes 248nightmare.com from favorite list.

So I went through her blog and read that article, there’s one thing which is making me anxious; that if she is claiming that being a mechanic or a enthusiast in Kuwait is hard and if that’s what she has devoted her life into then why don’t you move back to the place where you’ve come from.
Not being rude over here, but I believe there you’d be able to explore more.
Here in Kuwait if a woman( particularly young) is spotted driving a car she will be followed by atleast two out of three coyotes let alone being a mechanic which is more like a gold brick in a diamond mine.

I guessed you were Kuwaiti when you said your first car was an H3 😉 In contrast, my first car was a 4-gear 1986 Ford Fiesta – I’m only jealous!

Keep doing what you are doing, I applaud you for having the guts to be yourself and follow your own dreams.

How do you think other countries got to be more accepting? It certainly wasn’t because people told anyone having a problem to gtfo.

the level of discussion here is sad. of course she’s a mechanic. you guys are all neanderthals. she’s more mechanic than most mechanics!
she studied mechanical engineering!
only cause she’s a woman, you’re so weak in your masculinity that you are threatened by a woman mechanic…… threatened by a girl. hahahahahaha….. weaklings.

There is a full page report about Sarah Khuraibet in today’s (12th May) Arab Times in the ‘insight’ column. She works in KOC.

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