Rights of afghan women
Women in Afghanistan didn't have as many rights as the men due to their lower status. Education for women is very low and because of this, only minorities of women are able to hold jobs such as scientists, doctors, teachers and civil servants. Approximately 15% of females can read and write and out of the 8 million students attending school in Afghanistan (as of 2011) only 37% are women.
Women did not get a say in whom or when they marry which meant that women often were married at 12 to someone much older; someone in their 60’s. Once the women are married into a certain family, they are not allowed to leave. Many cases have it that women have tried to escape abusive male relatives but often are caught and brought back home. There they are beaten severely or tortured, reminding them of their non-existent freedom. Even though women are not allowed to divorce their husbands, the men are allowed to divorce their wives and often they sell them off to prostitution without a say.
The burqa is a complicated piece of clothing. When women wear one, it is seen as a political statement; as endorsement of a hierarchy in which women have little power outside their home. Wearing a burqa is considered routine for all women in Afghanistan. In many parts of Afghanistan, a woman’s face, neck and arms to be seen is considered cheap and to be cheap is to be at risk of death. Basically, a woman who is seen as a prostitute or with the intention of seducing men is a candidate for an honour killing. An honour killing is the killing of a relative, especially a girl or woman, who is perceived to have brought dishonour on the family.
-Alex
Women did not get a say in whom or when they marry which meant that women often were married at 12 to someone much older; someone in their 60’s. Once the women are married into a certain family, they are not allowed to leave. Many cases have it that women have tried to escape abusive male relatives but often are caught and brought back home. There they are beaten severely or tortured, reminding them of their non-existent freedom. Even though women are not allowed to divorce their husbands, the men are allowed to divorce their wives and often they sell them off to prostitution without a say.
The burqa is a complicated piece of clothing. When women wear one, it is seen as a political statement; as endorsement of a hierarchy in which women have little power outside their home. Wearing a burqa is considered routine for all women in Afghanistan. In many parts of Afghanistan, a woman’s face, neck and arms to be seen is considered cheap and to be cheap is to be at risk of death. Basically, a woman who is seen as a prostitute or with the intention of seducing men is a candidate for an honour killing. An honour killing is the killing of a relative, especially a girl or woman, who is perceived to have brought dishonour on the family.
-Alex