This year, the campaign theme for International Women’s Day is ‘#ChooseToChallenge’. Since this special day for women is to celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life, News Hub Asia (NHA) chose not only to celebrate but to remember the tenacity, sacrifice and efforts of female delivery riders who we consider are amongst the non-healthcare frontliners amidst recent lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year. NHA’s Ruzanna M. Zuknik speaks to television series actress turned foodpanda rider, Marina Sofiah, to find out her reasons for choosing to challenge certain gender conventions.
NHA: Before being a delivery rider, what kind of work did you use to do? And how is it different, then and now?
Marina Sofiah: I’ve had a pretty varied career with plenty of odd jobs along the way. One that I probably stuck at the longest was being a TV actress for several series on TV2. But ultimately, I decided to make this switch and become a foodpanda rider to have greater control over my day-to-day work life.
Can you tell us more about the reason you chose to become a foodpanda rider, especially since it’s such a man’s world?
I chose this job because of the flexibility it gave me. As a rider, I can work according to my own schedule and I can earn income on a weekly basis.
To me these were the key driving factors, it did not matter whether the majority of other riders were male or female. I was just focused about what benefits the job would bring me.
What are the challenges you face being a female rider?
I think in general as a rider there are quite a few challenges that you would face. Whether its delivering orders, keeping safe on the road or just dealing with the wide variety of people that we meet as riders (not all of whom are always pleasant).
As a female rider, some of these challenges are amplified. There are those who think that women aren’t capable of doing this job – whether it is the long hours we work, late nights or simply getting around town efficiently to complete orders. They look down at us and pre-judge us just because of our gender.
Has anyone ever questioned you for being a delivery rider especially since there still exist the traditional idea that women should be at home rather than at work? What were your response to those types of questions?
Absolutely, I have faced many people like this before. I believe that mentality is no longer feasible in today’s age. Both men and women have to be able to provide for themselves and their families. Women must not rely on others but instead should be independent enough to survive on their own if need be.
When faced with this kind of questions, I brush it off and instead use it as motivation to work harder and perform better.
If you are married and have children, how do you juggle between working outside and managing your household?
To be honest it is not easy at all. For me in particular, not only do I have to take care of my school-going children, I also have to look after my mum and dad who are both not well. I am grateful to have a job as a foodpanda rider, because it offers me the flexibility that I need to fulfil my responsibilities to my family whilst also being able to earn a living. Thanks to the job, I’m able to take off and set aside time for my family whenever they need me to.
What is your message to all the women in this world?
I think it is so important for women to have confidence and believe in themselves. We are capable of so much and I genuinely believe that women are stronger than men. I hope that by taking this route and taking control of my own destiny – working and earning a living independently, I can inspire other women to do the same.
