Women in Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan By: Emily Rheault

Reputation

Once a women’s reputation is tarnished, she is no longer respectable and society’s respect cannot be re-attained.

Men, on the other hand, can redeem their tarnished reputation through revenge.

Some events that can ruin an Afghan woman’s reputation include promiscuity, rape, and divorce .

(Society and Norms â Gender Roles: Women)��

Marriage Afghan women tend to marry young Marriages are commonly arranged Generally do not work outside the

home, and are usually restricted to socializing with female relatives.

Afghan society regards unmarried women over the age of 25 and divorced women with disapproval.

Marriage cont. If widowed, a brother or father of the

deceased husband will often take the widow as another wife or otherwise provide for her.

(Society and Norms â Gender Roles: ��Women)

Under the Taliban Rule It was mandatory for women during the

rule to wear a burka to ensure modesty. If a woman was caught not wearing a

burka by the Taliban, consequences included being beaten.

Some still wear a burka for safety in areas where the Taliban are still active.

(Society and Norms â Gender Roles: ��Women)

A

A Common Afghan Burka

Taliban Rule cont. The Taliban banned women from the work force,

removed girls from schools, and expelled them from universities.

Prohibited women from leaving their homes unless accompanied by a close male relative

Prohibited women and girls from being examined by male physicians while at the same time prohibited female doctors and nurses from working

(Campaign for Afghan Women & Girls - Taliban & Women)

Post-Taliban After the fall of the Taliban in 2001,

women have gained political rights that include women being appointed to prominent positions in the government.

The legal age for women allowed to be married is now 17 instead of 18.

Women can be employed, but only if their male relatives permit it.

Post-Taliban Continued The government has enforced laws that

limit women’s rights that include (for Shi’a women): Can only leave their homes except for

“legitimate” purposes. Forbids women from working or receiving

education without their husbands’ express permission

Explicitly permits marital rape

Post Taliban Continued Diminishes the right of mothers to be

their children’s guardians in the event of a divorce

Makes it impossible for wives to inherit houses and land from their husbands – even though husbands may inherit immoveable property from their wives

(Life as an Afghan Woman)

Afghan Woman Voting

Click icon to add picture

Facts/Statistics More women die in pregnancy and childbirth

than almost anywhere else in the world. 1 in 50 women will die during pregnancy or childbirth—one every 2 hours.

9 out 10 women are illiterate Life expectancy is 44, one of the lowest in

the world More than 50% of Afghan girls are married or

engaged by 10. Almost 60% of girls are married by 16.

Facts cont. Only 40% of Afghan girls attend

elementary school, and only one in 20 girls attend school beyond the sixth grade.

Afghanistan has 1.5 million widows, one of the highest proportions in the world.

The average age of an Afghan widow is 35.

(Life as an Afghan Woman)

Works Cited "Society and Norms â Gender Roles: ��

Women." Society and Norms and Gender Roles. University of Western Florida, 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

"Life as an Afghan Woman." Trust in Education. Trust in Education RSS, 2012. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

Works Cited "Campaign for Afghan Women & Girls -

Taliban & Women." - Taliban & Women - Feminist Majority Foundation. Campaign for Afghan Women & Girls, 2013. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.