Historical Aspect of Oppression of Women in Afghanistan
The Historical Aspects involve looking at how this issue has been developing throughout time, the origins, and using historical data to predict how the issue can be resolved.
1890-1973
Women have been a second class citizen in Afghanistan for as long as historical documents reach back. In the 1800's women were married off at the age of 13, had no way to divorce a man, and couldn't even inherent land from relatives. However, as rulers changed, so did rules concerning women. During the rule of the Khan Kings from the early 1900's until 1930 women made large strides towards equality. The marriage age was raised, women were allowed to divorce their husband, schools were made for women, and the Anjuman-E-Himayat-E-Niswan (translating to "Organization for Womens Protection") was created. This organization fought women oppression and gave women a voice. When the Khan Kings took rule in the 1930-1973, they were at first more conservative, careful not to anger the tribal leaders. They repealed many of the laws the Khans created for women rights. As time when on, the influence of the kings reformist cousin and Prime Minister convinced him to allow women into the workforce as nurses, teachers, and even politicians.(Joya, 2010; Qazi, 2009)
Click on this button below for a more in-depth history of the Kahn rulers
Women have been a second class citizen in Afghanistan for as long as historical documents reach back. In the 1800's women were married off at the age of 13, had no way to divorce a man, and couldn't even inherent land from relatives. However, as rulers changed, so did rules concerning women. During the rule of the Khan Kings from the early 1900's until 1930 women made large strides towards equality. The marriage age was raised, women were allowed to divorce their husband, schools were made for women, and the Anjuman-E-Himayat-E-Niswan (translating to "Organization for Womens Protection") was created. This organization fought women oppression and gave women a voice. When the Khan Kings took rule in the 1930-1973, they were at first more conservative, careful not to anger the tribal leaders. They repealed many of the laws the Khans created for women rights. As time when on, the influence of the kings reformist cousin and Prime Minister convinced him to allow women into the workforce as nurses, teachers, and even politicians.(Joya, 2010; Qazi, 2009)
Click on this button below for a more in-depth history of the Kahn rulers
1973-1979
Image from Afghan Chamber of Commerce
When the first President Khan was elected in 1973, like the other Khans he fought for women rights. He pushed for the abandonment of the veil and other personal freedoms. However, his efforts only affected those in larger cities. Women in rural areas still were treated much like the women in the 1800's.(Qazi, 2009)
1997-2001
When the communists took over in 1979 the People Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) pushed for massive social reforms. They created compulsory education for girls, bride prices were abolished and the legal marriage age was raised to 16. Those in rural areas that tried to protest the reforms were physically forced into the new laws are brutally killed. (Qazi, 2009)
As wars waged from 1979-1996, many men, women, and children were killed, especially in rural areas. If women were in larger cities throughout the wars, they were allowed some basic human rights and were still allowed to attend school and be in the workforce.
When the communists took over in 1979 the People Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) pushed for massive social reforms. They created compulsory education for girls, bride prices were abolished and the legal marriage age was raised to 16. Those in rural areas that tried to protest the reforms were physically forced into the new laws are brutally killed. (Qazi, 2009)
As wars waged from 1979-1996, many men, women, and children were killed, especially in rural areas. If women were in larger cities throughout the wars, they were allowed some basic human rights and were still allowed to attend school and be in the workforce.
When the war ended and the Taliban took over from 1996-2001 women's rights were completely taken away. It was the worst women have ever been treated in any other time or by any other society.Women were forbidden to:
Women under the Taliban Rule Forced to Cover all parts of their body
(Image from San Francisco Chronicle:Imprisoned by the veil)
- Work
- leave the house without a male escort,
- see medical help from a male doctor,
- and forced to cover themselves from head to toe, even covering their eyes.
Women under the Taliban Rule Forced to Cover all parts of their body
(Image from San Francisco Chronicle:Imprisoned by the veil)
2001-Current
- After 2001 the United states invaded Afghanistan and lifted all previous limitations on women rights. The government was so weak at that time, they had trouble enforcing the laws.
- In 2004 they created their constitution. Afghanistan was now an Islamic Republic.
- Women are still treated as second class citizens and crime rates and statistics have been raising since 200 (WUNRN, 2008)
Click on the button below for a full timeline of Afghanistan rule.