Unequal treatment of individuals based on their gender is called gender inequality and it is characterized by man’s dominance and regarding of women and as inferior and less valuable beings because of their sex. It is diverse and widespread all over the world with Asia being the most affected continent. It can be classified into different classes which are demonstrated in different ways. First, there is an economic gender inequality which is demonstrated by women contributing less than men in the formal work sector; thereby, being more likely to live in poverty. Secondly, political gender inequality which entails low representation of women in elected offices, political and corporate appointments. Thirdly, social gender inequality which is demonstrated by women being the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, inequalities in education attainment, lack of freedom to marry and divorce, and unequal access to health care. Lastly, demographic gender inequality is evident in cases where women are never given the chance to be born or live due to fetucide and infanticide; hence, men outnumber women by large numbers (Lorber 2010:4). This research paper focuses on gender inequality in Afghanistan where women have faced all forms of inequalities for a long time as a result of the countries believes and norms. It will highlight the causes, current state of gender inequality in Afghanistan and measures taken to eradicate the injustice as well as challenges faced.
Discussion
Historical overview: Gender inequality in Afghanistan stems from cultural beliefs and was worsened by the Taliban regime. Afghanistan women are oppressed, discriminated and marginalized beings whose rights have been violated for a long time. The biggest challenge ...
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... the last years after Taliban fall. Although the process of implementing the new constitution is slow many organizations have been formed to help fight these inequalities and are yielding positive results with many recommendations being given to the government and international bodies on how to eradicate gender inequality and promote gender equity in Afghanistan.
Conclusion
Men believed that they were superior to women and owned them thereby oppressing and treating them as their servants while on the other hand women believed in the men’s ideas and as such could not do anything against them an aspect that led to severe gender inequality which was later aggrieved by Taliban. Customary law practiced back then in all ways supported the injustices and for a long time women in Afghanistan were exposed to economic, political, social and demographic gender inequalities.
This book by A. Widney Brown and LeShawn R.Jefferson reflects on the negative impacts of different Talib decrees on the overall development Afghan women.
One of the main controversies in this book is the plight of women and men’s struggles. Although both experienced different kinds of inequalities, women were the target of the Taliban. In 1978, women in Kabul were demanding their rights during the Afghan Women’s Year. The president who was in charge then was president Daoud, and he decreed, “The Afghan woman has the same right as the Afghan man to exercise personal freedom, choose a career, and fins a partner in marriage” (53). This decree was absolutely invalid when the Taliban expelled a humanitarian organization that was run by women, and because of that, the Taliban took over Kabul. Women were not allowed to work outside of home. Because of that, Latifa mentions that women in Kabul usually just bake bread, do embroidery,
The society of the Taliban is almost a polar opposite of that in the United States. The group looks at women as having little to no rights and believes that their holy book, the Quran, gives reasoning to the roles of women as virtually sexual objects in their society. Their political leaders were not elected into their positions, but took them by force. It operates fifteen courts of law in Southern Afghanistan in the...
The women of Afghanistan have been enduring unfathomable suffering since the Taliban, a religious faction, seized control of the country in 1996. (NOTE TO STUDENT: my teacher gave me a B+ and said I would have had an A if I had had more detail on the Taliban's reasons for these laws) Since 1996 Afghan women have been living fear for their safety and lives. A myriad of discriminating laws has been placed on Afghan women. The punishments for violating these laws are unimaginably inhuman.
Since the tragedies of September 11th 2001, Americans have really opened their eyes to the political state of Afghanistan. The poor treatment of women in Afghanistan is an issue that, for many Americans, just seems to be coming to light as a serious concern that requires outside attention. Extreme Islamic leaders in the country persist in limiting the freedom that Afghan women have. Women in the Taliban-controlled country suffer unusually hideous acts of torment and are forced to abide by outrageous regulations because of stringent enforcement methods. Afghan women daily live lives restricted by Taliban law and risk having to endure cruel punishment and torture, yet Afghan political leaders continue to justify the their treatment of Afghan women.
In Afghanistan specially in rural areas of country men are the dominant force in a family and all the time women faced different types of abuses either by their own family member or their husband and his family. Women violation is the use of force over woman either by their family members or an outsider, or its the concept through which men use their power in order to force an implement their own desires over a woman's will.
The Taliban has made education unattainable for Afghan women. Although Joya had set up secret schools for women, they all lived in fear and risked being punished for trying to gain knowledge. At this same time period between the late 20th and early 21st century, in contrast, women of the West were given the same amount of education as men. This provided the women with the knowledge to have a better chance at getting involved in politics and making a difference in gender equality. At this point, the women in Afghanistan, without the knowledge of law or politics, had only the agency to know that they have an entitlement to be treated like humans that are able to make their own decisions just as men are. Despite the limited agency due to their lack of education, Afghan women were overall better equipped to fight for their rights as opposed to the US government. This is especially true when considering the Afghan women’s major goal in contrast to the United State’s focus. The Afghan women’s major concern was the liberation of women, while the United States centered their intervention on improving the stability and economic growth of Afghanistan “lecture”. As it can be seen throughout the Second Wave of feminism in the US, women acquired rights by working together in collective groups demanding equal job opportunities and political representation (Ewig
The Taliban, a forceful political association against women’s rights, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 (Hayes, Brunner, and Rowen). Predominantly, they believe in the religion of Islam, as do most Afghans, and that males are the dominant gender (Hayes, Brunner, and Rowen). They controlled Afghanistan under their “version” of the Islamic laws which many others did not agree with (Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls). The Taliban is composed of Afghan men of various ages who did not grow up in Afghanistan, therefore know little about their country’s culture (Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls). The leader of the Taliban from 1994 to 2001 was Mohammed Omar, a religious leader that, over time, gained more and more followers (Bellamy). Eventually he ousted the Afghanistan government and gained control of the country (Bellamy). The Taliban only ruled for five years, but what they did has left a scarring mark on the country of Afghanistan.
The women of Afghanistan have been through every hardship imaginable. Khaled Hosseini uses his novel A Thousand Splendid Suns to show his readers how women’s rights changed through out the last half of the 20th century and how the different governments affected the women differently.
The Taliban are still in power in many parts of the country, denying people the rights they deserve, and committing crimes against humanity. Women’s rights are nowhere near where they should be, they are treated like property, because that is how the culture sees women, there is violent acts committed on girls when they try to stand up for themselves, and people don't speak up against this ugly truth, nearly as much as they should as fellow human beings.
Throughout recent history, Afghanistan has been a country in turmoil. Famine, drought, civil war and Taliban rule have all had a significant impact on the Afghani people. While this has taken a very negative toll on all Afghan people, I believe, that none have been more negatively impacted than the women of Afghanistan. Having said that, not everything the Western world deems as a negative is also considered negative by the women and men of Afghanistan. One only has to read this quote, “Wearing the burqua is not mandatory, but few women are rushing to remove them” (Germani 14). While the Taliban and al-Qaida’s rule had a great negative impact from 1996-2001 and obviously oppressive to all Afghani women. They were not the sole source of oppression felt by the Afghan females as stated in this quote, “The roots of patriarchal oppression go deep in Afghan society - far deeper than the Taliban or al-Qaida.”(Rostami-Povey, E. 2007)
Travesties are committed against women every day, in every country, in every city, town and home. In Afghanistan women are not only discriminated against, they are publicly reduced to animals. Women are deprived of basic human rights: they are not allowed to travel outside their homes without being completely covered by the traditional shroud-like burqa; they are not allowed to speak or walk loudly in public; they are not allowed to laugh or speak with other women; they are not allowed to attend school nor work; they are expected to be invisible; they are the ghosts of what were once educated, notable, and successful women. With their ruthless and extreme laws, the Taliban have effectively removed the physical presence of women in Afghanistan. The Taliban have stolen the very souls of these women and have turned them into the “living dead” of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s harsh restrictions and extreme religious laws have tainted the freedoms and basic human rights of the once valued and prominent women of Afghanistan.
They are involved in politics, before they were not allowed to be doing the things that are doing today. from getting help and a lot of effort these women's lives have changed. According to Afghan Women Seeing Hope in the Ballot Box. “ many women are quick to note that little has changed outside of the cities; in rural Afghanistan, where most women live, women are still more than property to their brothers, fathers and husbands.” The quote is saying that even though the Taliban is not in control anymore, in the rural areas nothing has changed. Theses women are still being treated bad and are not allowed to do anything. women in small places still belong to their families. According to Christina Lamb in Afghan Women Dread Departure of U.S. Forces. “ The situation for women is very bad, even for women like me in positions of power.”(Lamb). The quote is saying that even though some of the rules have changed for women, some women are still in danger. the women who speak out or are apart of
Women in Afghanistan don’t have as much freedom or no rights compared to the men in their country. Men are seen as strong ,controlling and Powerful. They often say that women are treated worse than the animals. Women are not treated really well in Afghanistan Men and Women should be treated the same.Hopefully one day we will see the rights and responsibilities change and women are valued as much as men
Education of women in Afghanistan is still a big problem facing the Afghan community. The serious situation of illiterate women in Afghanistan ins...