Driven to drive ... taxis
Why is it that most Somali males drive taxis, and what do their female counterparts do?
A lot of them do drive taxis, but taxi driving is not exclusive to Somalis. It might look like all taxi drivers are Somali because they are almost all concentrated in the airport areas. The number seems high and I think it is because there are a lot of us here, but compared to other races — like white taxi drivers — there's really not as many as you might think. Part of this, I think, is because it's such a visible position, and there are a lot of people whose primary interaction with Somalis is from the back seat of a taxi. There's also a trick our brains like to play where once we get an idea about something, we tend to focus on the things that prove that idea and ignore the things that disprove it.
But to answer your question, a lot of Somali men end up driving taxis for three reasons.
First, Muslim men are required to perform their prayer in the Masjid, especially midday prayer on Friday. A Muslim woman can perform prayer at her home or wherever she is at the time. If she wants she can go and pray at the Masjid, but it is not a requirement. So having an hourly job makes fulfilling this religious duty difficult. In Somalia, men came home at midday to eat lunch, go to the Masjid and pray, and then go back to work. In some cases work ended midday, especially on Fridays.
Second, coming from a society where the male was basically the king of everything, it is hard to suddenly answer to a female supervisor, or to a male supervisor, for that matter. In Somalia, at least outside the big cities, the vast majority of men are self-employed, and there is still a strong cultural preference for that. So they become taxi drivers to be their own bosses. Adjusting to new language and new world is hard enough already, so I think it is another way of reducing stress and making as little change as possible. The taxi business provides a lot of autonomy compared to other jobs, so it makes it an attractive option.
Third, driving a taxi requires skills that a newly arrived immigrant is likely to already have, which aren't exclusive to a particular country or culture. A medical or engineering degree from another country is likely to not be recognized here, but anyone can easily demonstrate the ability to drive and read a map. This makes taxi driving an attractive first step for immigrants from many countries. Add in the fact that the more people from one country take up a particular profession, the more likely a new arrival from that country is to have a connection and an “in,” and it's easy to see why so many people choose it.
As for women, I think we do a little better adjusting to America than the males do. This is just coming from one female’s opinion, but I think the Somali female population works in more diverse fields. Like the men's preference for self employment, the concentration of women is around the medical field, especially nursing. Women are seen as the nurturers and care-givers in our culture, so the ones that work often prefer those jobs.
But again, we have journalists, doctors, lawyers, business women and men, as well as factory workers.
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Ifrah Jimale (askasomali@gmail.com) writes the Ask A Somali column for the TC Daily Planet.
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Comments
Somali men & Tax Driving
I guess another reason why Somali men drive taxi is due to the fact that its hard for them to get jobs that they can support their families with. For example, many of these somali men who are at mid 30s and over, studied teachnical subjects such as maths, engineerings, biology, chemistry amonth others either in Somalia or out of Somalia such as India, Russia or middle East. Alot of them studied in other languages. I know many doctors here in MN who are not practicing because they were asked to go back to school for one reason or one other. They are faced with either sacrificing their families and going back to school not knowing they will get a job after they complete school or just settle for taxi driving supporting their families.
They either lack English competency or American culture savvyness or both. Thus lack Corporate America culture by default. I don't have to tell you how important corporate culture is in America corporate world and even how some of the people born and raised in this culture struggle with corporate culture. The office politics and the shoe polishing (ass kissing) that comes with it is quite deaming for anyone who has self worthiness. Obviously, new immigrants see this looking from outside because its new to them but Americans don't see this because its something that always has been there. Its the way things have been done for centuries and became part of the process...Identity if you will. Americans are taught this to be part of the game, the survival game and if you want to climb up the leader, you better not only play but be good at it. Its simply a survival mechanism, survival of the fittest if you will.
For someone who does not understand the nuances of the American culture will not survive in this enviroment thus, even those who tried to re-intent themselves when they arrived here by going back to school and tried to get jobs after graduation, lost hope and settled for taxi driving after the corporate america gatekeepers turned them down for interviews many atimes. For those who might have been lucky and made to the corporate, many did not last but decided taxi is better option.
I guess this worked to their advantages because there are many successful Somalis out there in MN today. I don't think they would have been this successful had they choiced to work for companies 9-5. One thing for sure, no one ever gets rich because of working 9-5.
Driven to drive...taxis
I appreciate the complex answers you give.
Your quote:
"There's also a trick our brains like to play where once we get an idea about something, we tend to focus on the things that prove that idea and ignore the things that disprove it."
Ah yes, we all do it, all the time, don't we?
When you get a chance, please discuss Somali (Islam?) and pets (dogs, cats, etc).
Thanks!
Somali Taxi Cab Drivers
Thanks Ifrah - you really write well and have great insight and understanding of the Somali community in the Twin Cities. I enjoy you column very much and look forward to reading you next one!
Somali male taxi drivers
Ifrah - Many thanks for the effort to help educate the rest of Minnesota about our culture and predicaments. And while everything stated about driving taxi is right, I also think it provides flexibility - should one desires to take off the day to attend to a family need, go to a class or study for exam, etc.
You are doing a great service to both Somali-Minnesotans as well as the greater Minnesota community - keep up and thanks.
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