Women's Rights In Afghanistan Essay
The Western world has a widespread flawed perception about what women's rights in Afghanistan have always been like. Before the conflict in the 1970s began, the future looked bright for Afghan women. They were given the right to vote in 1919, gender separation was abolished in the 1950s, and a new constitution promised more equality for women in the 1960s. Contrary to photographs the Western world sees of Afghan women dressed in burqas from head-to-toe, Horia Mosadiq, who was just a young girl when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, recalls a very different life for women, "As a girl, I remember my mother wearing miniskirts and taking us to the cinema." Noticeably, times have changed and those days are distant from the reality
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The 2004 Constitution declared that "the citizens of Afghanistan—whether man or woman—have equal rights and duties before the law." Since regaining their political rights, women have been appointed to roles in government. Girls’ education has improved, yet an estimated 1.5 million girls still do not attend school. Now, women can be employed, but only by a male relative. Less girls are getting married at young ages and life expectancy for women has increased. Even though Afghanistan has made tremendous progress in the past 15 years, women are still often disregarded by men and still do not have full access to all the rights and freedoms in which they should be granted. Trust in Education is an organization that works towards education for all and believes that "[Change] has to emerge through education within the context of the culture. We help girls get the education they so desperately want, as well as help educate the boys. Educated men are much more likely to support more choices for women. Educated husbands appreciate and are less threatened by their educated partners." Nonetheless, the Taliban still exists today and often heartbreaking stories of the Taliban's acts of cruelty and violence make it to the headlines. Even though the extremist group does not rule Afghanistan anymore, it has resurged in recent years, stirring fear and civil unrest in countries in the Middle
The 2004 Constitution declared that "the citizens of Afghanistan—whether man or woman—have equal rights and duties before the law." Since regaining their political rights, women have been appointed to roles in government. Girls’ education has improved, yet an estimated 1.5 million girls still do not attend school. Now, women can be employed, but only by a male relative. Less girls are getting married at young ages and life expectancy for women has increased. Even though Afghanistan has made tremendous progress in the past 15 years, women are still often disregarded by men and still do not have full access to all the rights and freedoms in which they should be granted. Trust in Education is an organization that works towards education for all and believes that "[Change] has to emerge through education within the context of the culture. We help girls get the education they so desperately want, as well as help educate the boys. Educated men are much more likely to support more choices for women. Educated husbands appreciate and are less threatened by their educated partners." Nonetheless, the Taliban still exists today and often heartbreaking stories of the Taliban's acts of cruelty and violence make it to the headlines. Even though the extremist group does not rule Afghanistan anymore, it has resurged in recent years, stirring fear and civil unrest in countries in the Middle