What is sexism? Does sexism even exist? These questions are commonly asked by students and adults alike since this particular topic has seemingly eluded the awareness of most. Sexism is frequently the discrimination of women and/or favoritism of men. It is astonishingly prevalent and incredibly real in society. For instance, sexism in Arabic, Islamic countries, such as Afghanistan, is rampant and, unfortunately, not under control. Extremists believe sexism is merely a figment of the accuser’s imagination and the extremist’s view their treatment of woman as a necessity and something that must be adhered to. (Khaled Hosseini, 2007) Therefore, transmitting this obliviousness to the now ignorant citizens of the world. Regardless of this sexism epidemic, the Islamic women who fall victim to this ludicrous and frivolous injustice somehow find motivation and silent strength to carry on. Books such as A Thousand Splendid Suns and other pieces of literature like the poem “The Threshold of Silence” not only address sexism in Afghanistan and make it clear of its existence but also illustrate the inner strength Afghani women have as a result of it.
In A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, the discrimination of women is clearly portrayed with several different faces: social inequity, forced seclusion, and domestic violence. For example, the co-protagonist of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam, was raised in Herat, Afghanistan with her mother’s axiom always present in her conscience, “Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman.” (Hosseini 7) This accurately demonstrates sexism is present because men consistently find themselves much too proud and superior to have any consequence for th...
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...faces, allowing them to stomach the discrepancies and carry on with even the slightest will. But regardless of this admirable will, the awareness and significance of female discrimination remains oblique due to the fear Afghani women have for their superiors and respective consequences. In essence, they fear the cruel, unnecessary consequences far more than their desires and ambitions. Even Laila from A Thousand Splendid Suns is aware that “all [she] can do is hope and move on” (Hosseini 411). Conclusively, sexism is incontrovertibly real and “just because it is not [you], does not make it go away;” (Neesha Stanza 10) it firmly exists.
Works Cited
Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York City: Penguin Group Inc., 2007.
Neesha. "The Threshold of Silence." Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. 16 Apr 2009. .
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