A Look into the Life of Afghan Women

1. A Look into the Life of Afghan Women By Nehanda Thom, Alisa Marcus and Najibah Islam

2. How the women are viewed • Women are considered sub- humans, only fit for household slavery and as a mean of procreation by Islamic fundamentalism. Such an outrageous view has become an official policy with the coming to power of the ignorant Taliban. Not only the Jehadis and Taliban but all Islamists target women’s rights as a first priority, citing Islamic law as their authority.

3. What do Afghan Women Wear? • Afghan Women wear Chadaris an article of clothing that covers “their beauties” which are their arms, chests, and faces according to the Quran. • The Chadari may come in parts, such as • A Chadari is a an Afghan version of a burqa, which is a a full body covering that exposes the eyes, but a Chadari completely covers the face. One variation has two holes for the eyes while another has no holes but a mesh material over the eyes and face that allows a woman to see and breathe, but blocks other people from easily see her facial features.

4. What do Afghan Women Wear? (cont’d) • Chadaris come in different colors that usually vary by region. For example, women who live in Kabul may wear blue and Hindu women may wear yellow. • The Chadari is a controversial article of clothing because women involved in the Taliban are required to wear Chadaris.

5. What do Afghan Women wear? (cont’d) “Clothing should not attract attention or be worn to show off. Clothing must cover the entire body; only the hands and face may remain visible. The material must not be so thin that one can see through it. Clothing must hang loose so that the shape of the body is not shown off. The woman's clothing must not resemble the man's clothing, nor should the man's clothing resemble the woman's. Women shouldn't artificially lengthen their hair with wigs or weaves…” -Horace Mann's Webpage on Muslim and Middle Eastern Clothing, Jewelry, Make-up • Although not all Afghan women are Muslims, 99% of the Afghan population is Muslim most women who dress in the manner described above is to conform to their religious beliefs.

6. How did/does the Taliban Affect Afghan Women? • In the early 1990’s before the Taliban’s rise to power, Afghanistan’ women were successful teachers, lawyers, doctors even government officials, but once the Taliban came, the women of Afghanistan were discriminated against and their natural rights were violated. In many parts of the country women and young girls were deprived of many things such as education, employment and even health care. • Many young girls were denied the opportunity to go to school after the Taliban’s rise to power, but about (3%)of girls have been fortunate enough to be allowed primary school education but no further. The ban on female employment also negatively affected students, male and female because most of the teachers were female and were now prohibited from working.

7. How did/does the Taliban Affect Afghan Women? (cont’d) • Poor health conditions and malnutrition made pregnancy and childbirth dangerous for Afghan women. Restrictions were made on free movement and women were banned from driving cars or traveling with the accompaniment of men. Women were beaten and harassed if they were found in public places without a male. • Women could also be harrased for not having their entire bodies covered in chadaris, which was considered indecent exposure.

8. How did/does the Taliban affect afghan women ( cont’d) • Women are not allowed to work • Women are not allowed to sing for it will corrupt men • Women are not allowed to raise their voice in public nor laugh • Women are not allowed to wear bright colors , make up or heels, clicking sounds will corrupt men

9. Afghan women face one major problem, that is violence against them, they have no say in what men can do to them. Young girls are sold into marriages and then physically and sexually abused by the older men in the family until the groom is of age. Over 75% of abuse cases are not reported because the men do not see a problem with what they are doing, but then again a women will be punished for showing her face. The suicide rate among women have raised over the past years because young girls are taking their own lives to avoid being dishonored by being raped or sold into prostitution.

11. References • http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Clothing/Islam_Clothing,_Jewelry_Ma.html • http://www.un.org/events/women/2002/sit.htm • http://www.nationmaster.com/country/af-afghanistan/rel-religion • http://chadari.com/what_is_chadari.php • http://www.rawa.org/wom-view.htm • http://www.voanews.com