Women’s situation in Afghanistan, especially with the current government, is not very good. Women have no memorial history in my country and society.
One of the most significant challenges women in Afghanistan face today is the restriction of their access to education under Taliban rule. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they banned girls attending secondary school and university. They gave limited opportunities for some women to obtain higher education, achieve financial independence, and serve in society.
According to a report by the United Nations, more than one million Afghanistan women are currently out of school. They are unable to continue their education due to the Taliban government. Before the 2000s, it was a progressive time for women particularly during the 1960s-1970s. Women had access to education and could enjoy more freedom and participate in public life. In 1996-2001, the Taliban came to power and ordered that women should be in the house, do housework, and cannot go outside. At that time, women were forced to wear burqa and cover their faces. They could not go to school and were not allowed to work and had limited access to healthcare.
2000-2001
2000-2001 was an improvement period for women in Afghanistan. During this time, women were able to improve their knowledge by returning to school, they were able to participate in public office, and engage in personal life activities. Many women became active professionals in law, medicine, and government so these areas were not limited to women and there was no difference in political jobs between men and women. Every person had their own rights.
2021-Present
The fall of Kabul was in August of 2021 when the U.S. left Afghanistan and the Taliban took power and control of the country. We started a dark situation again and repeated the past situation for Afghanistan women. The Taliban government has reinstated many of these oppressive policies including banning education in secondary schools and university, restricting women from working jobs, and forcing them to stay home without any motivation for life.
Women cannot go outside without a male and they must wear a veil covering their body and face. Some women are forced to marry a person they do not like. Women had many goals they achieved before these news rules were put in place by the Taliban.
Conclusion
Throughout the history of Afghanistan, women’s situation has sometimes been good, but has mostly been very bad and hard. Women must go through a difficult and dark history in Afghanistan.
– Saima
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
