Afghanistanian Women

Women’s triumph over barriers of inequality is a consistent battle even in today’s society. Although, women are now able to have many freedoms from the professional world to politics, there is still a certain chauvinistic mentality that has been embedded at the very root of our society that spills over into the workforce and has led to (in many cases) women being underpaid in comparison to their male counterparts. Although, our fight in the U.S. is still existent, there may have been no fight greater than the one of Afghani women during the rule of the Taliban government. But, as many know, out of destruction can come strength and achievement. Many in today’s Afghanistan have been an example, of despite the Taliban’s overrule and its harsh abuses of Afghani Women.

During 1996, the Taliban had officially expanded in Afghanistan and spread their beliefs and developed them into everyday practices. Later, the Taliban would have a whole country under a brutal political system and force the Afghani women to give up many of their aspirations to become merely a shadow in the presence of a distorted form of government.

Some of the forms of abuse as specified in the report by Physicians for Human Rights, entitled, “the Taliban’s War On Women: A Health and Human Rights Crisis In Afghanistan, “ discusses how women could no longer pursue an education, the denial of medical attention (jf there were only male doctors available) and women could only be seen if they wore burqas and could not be outside alone (without a male).

Women quickly became more of a possession as they were not allowed to voice opinions and vital concerns. For instance, to some, the wearing of the burqa had been a problem because it was highly uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. As one woman states in an article entitled, “The Taliban’s War on Women: A Health And Human Rights Crisis” by the Physicians for Human Rights, “ My activities are restricted walking with the burqa is difficult; it has so many health hazards. You can’t see well and there is a risk of falling or getting hit by a car. …” The rules proved to be intolerable; however, going against the Taliban and taking a stance was not a position many women were willing to take, so they were forced to deal even in the most unjust circumstances.

Another setback developed by the Taliban government was a limitation on medical facilities for women, becoming, therefore, a limitation on the health of women and the decrease of female life expectancy. One rule soon managed to affect another because, if women physicians were not able to work in many hospitals, that would bring a dramatic decline in medical service availability for female patients. Also, being prohibited to have an education affects not only your economic stability, but it also limits the amount of women doctors in the future. This creates a weakening, health wise, and also manages to bring about an even larger dependency on men (which, rightfully so, would be the idea behind the Taliban’s general plan for the women of Afghanistan).

Along with the growth of disparity and the wave of uncertainty as to the future of Afghanistan, there were also specific effects for not following the Taliban’s rule. Here is a statement that accurately reflects some of the pain and outcomes that were inflicted on women in an article called “The Terrible Regime: Taliban Rule, 1996-Present.” Information provided by The Feminist Majority Organization concludes that “A woman who dared to defy Taliban orders by running a home school for girls was shot and killed in front of her husband, daughter and students.” Fighting the Taliban, of course proved to be a concrete struggle, and women lacked the backing to be able to fight without being harmed or, eventually, losing their lives. It would soon take a united effort in order to protect Afghani Women (as well as a whole country) from the growing dangers of the Taliban. In 2001 a war was waged (with the U.S. in the forefront). This would eventually be the re-opening of a world of freedom for Afghani women that would terminate the rules of he Taliban government over the women of Afghanistan.

Although the struggles have been enormous, a great turnaround has evolved. Women in Afghanistan are now expanding their knowledge, thus creating opportunity. One woman making a difference is Roya Sadat, who was mentioned in an article in Newsweek entitled “Living Dead’ No More.” It describes some of her struggles under the Taliban and, then, her successes post-Taliban. Roya Sadat went on to win an accolade for her short film symbolizing the problems facing many Afghani women. She has indeed proved that through pain can come positivism and change.

In the U.S. as well as Afghanistan, women have managed to elevate themselves, even in the most unfavorable situations. Throughout history many groups have had their goals suppressed and their future jeopardized by some form of hatred and bigotry—from the holocaust to slavery and the struggle for women’s rights (globally as well as domestically). However, through the unfair politics and unfair treatment if women in Afghanistan, there has been a ray of light through the understanding that staying stagnant was not an option, but growing stronger and educating yourself can lead to not only the best for one person, but can also benefit a whole group of people and, later, work to benefit a whole country. It takes participation from all, and by the segregation or misrepresentation of any group, you are affecting your country and not letting it bloom to reach its full potential.