War is stupid*. Period. End of story. And I will never, EVER support or endorse one. But, when I heard about a female fighter pilot hailing from a country that doesn’t even allow her to vote or drive a car, I was floored. Meet Mariam Al Mansouri. Al-Mansouri is the first female fighter pilot in the history of the United Arab Emirates. Not only is she a glass-ceiling pioneer of ridiculously, amazing proportions, this week, she led the Gulf state’s bombing raids over Syria in the fight against ISIS.
In an interview with CNN, Al Mansouri said she wanted to be a fighter pilot since high school, but had to wait until women were allowed: nearly 10 years later. That’s saint-like patience in pursuing a passion, alright. I can’t imagine what she went through to sway the authorities to allow her to join and I can’t imagine what she probably endures every day from others who aren’t so happy a woman is doing a ‘manly-man’s job’. According to the Arabic news source, Wattan TV, even her own family has disowned her for joining the U.S. battle against the terrorists. Sigh. So damn sad.
But, even this hasn’t deterred her from sticking to her top guns. As the Voyage Vixens, a travel blog that celebrates women pursing their passions despite all odds, Lindsay and I are giving jet fighter pilot Mariam Al Mansouri—especially in light of being born in one of the most female-oppressive countries in the world—a standing ovation. You make us proud to be female, Mariam.
*This post is not meant to be a political statement, but rather a commemoration of one woman’s success against all odds.
Check out her short, but powerful interview on CNN yesterday:
And a few more photos of Mariam Al Mansouri from social media:
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