At first, the initial post-soviet Taliban movement attracted a lot of support by people in Afghanistan, by promising to impose stability and order after many years of Soviet occupation and conflict.
However, this overwhelming support didn't last long. Especially for women, who were affected the most by Taliban rule.
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| Women in Afghanistan being beaten by a member of the Taliban |
While the Taliban were in power, they were notorious for their sexist treatment of women.
Women in Afghanistan were required to wear the burqa, this was because the Taliban believed that "the face of a woman uncovered is the source of corruption for a man not related to them." The requirements of the burqa was that the veil had to cover the whole body, their clothes couldn't be thin, decorated, or colorful. Women couldn't wear perfume or dress like men either.
Child marriage was very common and even encouraged by the Taliban. Over 50% of girls were engaged by 12 and 60% by 16. Most girls married far older men and over 80% were from rural underdeveloped areas and were arranged or forced. Many parents have their daughters bartered into marriage to repay debt or resolve disputes. Many older men (in their 60's) will pay a high price for child brides. Child marriage increased the rate of illiteracy, abuse, and physical and psychological trauma. Not to mention the increased health problems for young girls who were pregnant or gave birth.
Women in Afghanistan weren't allowed to work, and suddenly doctors, professors, engineers, and teachers became beggars on the streets. Women weren't allowed to go out in public, unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative). A woman who was badly beaten by the Taliban for going out by herself said "my father was killed in battle... I have no husband, no brother, no son. How am I to live if I can't go out alone?"
The punishments for women who went against these rules were often times public, and held in sports stadiums. Some examples of punishments were women having their fingers cut off for wearing nail polish, public stoning for adultery, public beatings and whippings.
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| Public execution of a woman known as Zarmeena in Kabul's Ghazi Stadium. She was the mother of seven children and was found guilty killing her husband in his sleep after allegedly being beaten by him |
Despite the Taliban slowly losing power since 2001, women have continued to have it hard. However, it is safe to say that it is getting better. Since the fall of the Taliban, new constitutions in Afghanistan were written to give women more political rights. Women have since even been appointed to hold prominent positions in government. Literacy among girls has improved as well, with the increase in number of girls attending schools by 30%.
Child marriage is more unlikely to happen, since the government has set laws in place that girls under 17 are not to be married (however not all who marry under 17 obtain marriage certificates). Women are more likely to be employed, only if male relatives permit it, and some feel that employing women takes jobs from men. Also, the number of women who burn themselves to death has decreased from 350 cases per year to 70.
These may seem like small changes from a western perspective, however they are real and only getting better.
Education of women within Afghanistan, not merely support from the west, needs to happen to help women get the rights and justices they deserve. Educated men are also very important as they are more likely to support choices for women, appreciate, and feel less threatened by their educated wives, daughters, and relatives.
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| Afghan women today |
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| U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton standing with Afghan female politicians. |
Sources:
Life as an Afghan Woman
Taliban treatment of Women in Afghanistan
Some of the restrictions imposed by Taliban on women in Afghanistan
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