France, March 8 -- As more women are having to fend for themselves amid economic hardship, they are increasingly venturing into trades previously dominated by men.

Khalid's pink three-wheeled electric rickshaw stood out on the frenetic streets of the region's commercial hub, as she pulled over to pick up women passengers.

The 35-year-old divorced mother of two is one of 100 women rickshaw taxi drivers plying the city's chaotic roads under Mata Zalla, a cooperative promoting women's empowerment.

"As a female rickshaw operator, you need to be strong because you made the resolve to go through all kinds of challenges," Khalid told the French news agency AFP.

Khalid quit selling footwear 18 months ago to get in the driver's seat, which sec...