The Unfortunate Reality of the Taliban’s Gender Filter

By: Timothy Morales, 10A

We have all heard the phrase “ all men are created equal” and we as a human race are striving to prove this to be true. However we hear of so many tragedies in the world where it seems we are taking a step backward. Theres one tragedy that stands out in particular and thats the singling out a gender and making one more prominent over the other. Afghanistan has struggled with this under the rule of the Taliban for many years. However the struggle became more extreme after the Taliban took any right or freedom that women had previously. These rights include work, choice of clothing, or  schooling. Unfortunately this has affected the stability of the once thriving Afghanistan; especially on the economy and culture.

In the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, women have experienced some change within their community however 80% of women outside of the city have not. (Riphenburg) This means 80% of women are still jobless or are not schooling.  This is significant because this impacts the economy because there are less workers or runner ups. So the economy is on the verge of collapsing because there are only up to so many healthy men who could work and fill in for the jobs loss. I have recently read the “Dressmaker of Khair Khana” by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon who writes about women who in Afghanistan who have had first hand experience with the Taliban. In the book there is a family which consist of a war veteran father, mother, and their seven daughters who had an opportunity to go to top schools in Afghanistan in an effort to have a successful career one day. However when the Taliban took control the girls could no longer go to school. Their father who was previously not working would have to work somehow and support all seven of his daughters and wife.  With the economy already sinking he would have to live off of whatever savings he has until the corruption ends. This father may never be able to see his daughters thrive in society. Instead he would have to watch him and his family suffer while they ache for it all to end. Women in Afghanistan need help so that they can revert back to their original lives. The Taliban being stopped will not only help women and but also the country to get back on it’s feet.

A woman being beaten by the Taliban in Public
www. rawa.org

Afghanistan once thrived with culture and freedom of choice. Women were able to wear clothes of their choice and a simple headscarf. However women were then stripped of this right under the control of the Taliban. Women were beaten in the street or even killed if they did not have on the Chadri  that the Taliban required. This is saddening because these changes we so sudden that women were not prepared for this. In fact many women didn't own the Chadri. There is a first hand experience  of theses beatings in the book “Dressmaker of Khair Khana” by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. In the book, Malika a woman and mother from Afghanistan personally witnessed these crimes. She had to take her son to the doctor but she did not own a Chadri. So she walked to the doctors office fearing for her life, luckily avoiding any altercations. However while she was in the doctor's office she saw a women get beat in the street by the Taliban for not having the Chadri. No one could interfere because they knew they would have similar fate. Malika was devastated and feared for her life not knowing how she would get home. This is the life of almost every woman in Afghanistan. They have to fear every day of being beat for not obeying the strict rules of the Taliban even in a case of emergency.  Many widows and mothers who are the main providers of their families cannot not  go outside which forces them to live in poverty. Which means they have no money for food or supplies. Some have to resort to prostitution who if caught could be killed and humiliated. The Taliban have women in the toughest situation and live most of their short lives, living in poverty and must be stopped.

Therefore all of us can do a little something to save women from the mistreatment of the Taliban. One way to help is to start a petition specifically to get someone of higher power involved because right now Afghanistan in in dire straights. Even donating food goods to help those families struggling from the falling economy. Also a little comfort is helpful because women have nobody to run to for help. We all can try some way to get involved because the people in Afghanistan need freedom.

Bio

Timothy is a student who really cares about the well being and equality of all people. This includes women’s rights with which the world struggles to provide. However he wants to fight and help out the best way he can by voicing his opinions hoping to be heard.