DRIVING tractors and farm machinery has historically been a male-driven profession.
But like many other Mulo Mulo firsts, a woman changed the perception in Fiji in the mid-1970s.
Salima Dean, (put a face to the name) was a daughter of Khair Dean, a prominent Mulo Mulo alderman.
She was routinely seen behind the steering wheel of a Ford model tractor burning the tracks.
Salima drew quite the attention of Mulo Mulo, Maigania and Solovi onlookers, she was least distracted.
Oftentimes she would pull for a brief moment, walk around and continue with her journey.
AWESTRUCK
Male drivers along the stretch of the road not only gazed but were awestruck at the sight of a woman just going about doing her business.
It is learned that she had been driving for years, the upside she had the working knowledge of the farm machines and has had hands-on skills to operate them.
The downside, according to a reliable source, is that Salima was not allowed to work the fields.
DRAG MANEUVER
Eyewitnesses have it that she pulled off a drag-and-pull maneuver of a cane-laden truck at the corner of Maigania and Solovi junction.
The driver of a truck flagged down for help, unbeknown, he was pleasantly surprised to see a woman behind the wheel who was willing to help.
Salima hitched the tow to the amazement of a busload of passengers and a few bystanders who saw the art of a woman driver at work.
BREAKING GLASS CEILING
Salima had a passion for muscle work and her deep driving desire had her to break the glass ceiling in a male-dominated profession.
And for decades there haven’t been many woman tractor or farm machinery drivers in the country.
It is either out of cultural beliefs, tradition and or respect that women were precluded from driving tractors and farm machinery.
CHANGING VALUES/ CULTURE
The societal values placed on women as homemakers have changed over the years, they have become equal contributors in the driving profession.
But in Fiji, men have dominated since the introduction of farm tractors and heavy machines.
