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March 8: Analyzing violence by women against women in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been labelled the worst country for women in global rankings. Reports, observations, and lived experiences of women indicate that the females of Afghanistan face all forms of violence – physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, economic, social, etc. – as well as inequalities and discrimination within families and society. This article attempts to examine the concept of violence by women against women within the social-cultural structures and contexts of Afghanistan. 

Before exploring that syndrome, it’s necessary to clearly explain violence against women and domestic violence:  

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1) Violence against women 

In its simplest definition, violence against women refers to any gender-based violent act that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering (Baghi et al., 2021: 41). Article 1 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, adopted by UN Resolution 48/104 in September 1993, defines violence against women as: “… any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” In general, any action or behaviour that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or deprivation and suffering of women is considered violence against women (Janqurd, 2020: 897- 899). 

2) Domestic violence (against women) 

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviour by one family member against another that causes physical and psychological harm. Nowadays, it is widely recognized that domestic violence is not limited solely to physical harm or injury among family members but can also include behaviours such as threats, humiliation, ridicule, and verbal abuse (Firouzjaiyan & Rezaei, 2014: 109). 

Violence by women against women 

Regarding violence by women against women, the definition of “violence” remains unchanged although motivations or levels of violence may differ at times though both the actors and collaborators of violence are women.  

it is natural that a range of diverse and varied factors and conditions are involved. Therefore, this article has only touched upon those aspects which appear to play significant roles in the occurrence of violence against women by women in Afghanistan. 

1) Patriarchal Structures 

Women experience all kinds of inequalities and violence in Afghanistan, some of which have become so normalized and institutionalized that they are perceived as part of the dominant culture. As women’s lives have been shaped by patriarchal structures, as well as family structure, educational structure, cultural structure, economic structure, and political structure, all of which contribute to gender inequality and produce violence against women. 

These structures create mental patterns that are anti-women, and even women are not immune to this. Such an environment normalizes, accepts, and even glorifies violence against women. It is within such patriarchal structures that violence against women by women finds justifications and is legitimized. Examples include maternal violence against daughters (gender preferences within families), domestic violence by mothers-in-law against daughters-in-law, or vice versa (ranging from physical violence to various forms of verbal, psychological, sexual, and economic violence), mutual violence among co-wives, competitive behaviours among women that reduce their overall power and place in the society (reduction and quantification of women’s value to cosmetic body care and consumption), and violence by female politicians or so-called women representatives in official assemblies – by exploiting their gained positions.  

2) Learned violence 

Albert Bandura believed that individuals who have experienced violence in their childhood or have witnessed violence in the family tend to exert violence against other family members. This theory assumes that the observation of violence leads to its learning, meaning violence begets violence. In this sense, individuals are not born with violent reactions but learn violent behaviours similarly to how they learn other complex behaviours. This theory aptly demonstrates the phenomena of violence against women by women. Since it’s rare to find a woman in Afghanistan who hasn’t experienced or witnessed some form of violence during her socialization process, a portion of violence against women by women in Afghanistan can be explained by this learned and imitative behaviour. 

3) Feelings of deprivation 

According to Robert Agnew, three patterns of deprivation tilt individuals towards violence. First is downward deprivation, where expectations of human groups remain fixed about political, social, and economic values, but capabilities decrease. In such situations, groups feel relatively deprived due to losing what they once had or thought they could have and feel resentful, reflecting on their past conditions as relatively deprived. Second is deprivation due to high ambitions or wishful deprivation, where capabilities remain relatively constant while expectations increase and intensify. And last is progressive deprivation, accompanied by a significant increase in expectations and a simultaneous and severe decrease in capabilities (Khalili & Dastafshan, 2020: 10).  

Since women in Afghanistan experience all three types of deprivation, these feelings of deprivations incline them towards violence. As they lack the power to enforce violence on men, they engage in violent behaviours against other women and children. 

4) Economic dependency 

Women in Afghanistan are often economically dependent on their male relatives. This dependency, coupled with cultural norms and traditions that assign women the role of caretakers and housekeepers, puts women in vulnerable positions. They may endure violence in silence due to financial dependence or fear of losing their children or social status. In some cases, women may perpetuate violence against other women as a means of maintaining their status or power within the family or community.  

5) Lack of awareness 

Lack of awareness about the conditions, structures, and main discourses that have led to the loss of women’s rights and dignity also contributes to violence against women. This situation can be explained mainly by the theory of alienation. For example, maternal violence against daughters can take place because they were not born sons who bring honour to the husband and family; or violence among co-wives, which is somehow a punishment for the victim as most women do not voluntarily marry their husbands. Similarly, violence by mothers-in-law against brides and others stems from unawareness of the “situation and conditions that have arisen” and the role of the victimized woman in those situations. 

6) Insecurity 

Women’s sense of security is defined by the level of peace of mind and mental well-being they experience in terms of their immunity to potential dangers and violence against them in their daily lives. Kwengton views security as an emotional response to potential violent crimes and physical harm (Sharbatian et al., 2017). However, women in Afghanistan are exposed to violence and a lack of security, both at home and in public. That lack of a sense of security has consequences, one of which is putting other individuals at risk of violence. In the home environment, this situation often occurs for women. To get closer to more powerful and financial resources and to remain safe from male violence or the violence of the elders, women put other women or weaker women and girls at risk of violence. This situation is widely recognizable and observable in relationships among co-wives, sisters, daughters-in-law, brothers’ wives, and others. 

Conclusion 

Violence jeopardizes the physical, mental, and socio-economic health of women in Afghanistan and undermines their self-confidence. It exacerbates women’s depression and anxiety and prevents them from engaging in economic, social, and political activities. Violence prevents women from obtaining their fundamental rights and interests. Furthermore, domestic violence has adverse effects on the upbringing and growth of children. It also imposes heavy economic, political, and social costs on society.  

Moreover, violence against women not only victimizes this group but also affects children. Children who witness violent behaviours may become the instigators or victims of violence in adulthood. 

Violence against women in Afghanistan is widespread, and the most important causes include patriarchal structures, learned violence, failures in life, lack of security, deprivation, and ignorance of the main discourses that have led to the loss of women’s rights and dignity. Therefore, it is necessary to first reform and modify the foundations of society that lead to violence against women by women, as the vast majority of violence against women in this country (in terms of quantity) is committed by women against individuals of their gender. 

*Karima Safdari is a graduate of legal studies and an activist for gender minority rights in Afghanistan.  

References: 

1. Baghi V, Dalvand S, Farajzadeh M, Khaki S, Foroughi Sh, Ghanei Gheshlagh R. (2021). Khoshunat aliyh-e zaan wa awamel mortarrebate ba an: yak motale e maqattaee dar Saqqez [Violence against women and its related factors: A cross-sectional study in Saghez]. Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Quarterly. 6(4):21-53 

2. Firouzjaiyan, A., & Rezaei Charati, Z. (2014). Sociological analysis of women violance against men. Social Development Quarterly, 9(2), 105-130. 

3. Jahani Janaqurd, M. (2020). Khoshanat hayiee khanagi alayhe zanan dar Iran [Domestic Violence in Iran against Women]. Qanun Yar, 4(14), 897-909. 

4. Khalili, R., & Dastafshan, S. (2020). Charchubi baraye sanjesh-e awamal va zaminehaye garaayesh be goruhaye terroristi [Framework for assessing the factors and backgrounds of inclination towards terrorist groups] Strategic Studies Quarterly, 7 (88), 23-32. 

5. Sharbatian, M.H, Danish. P, Tawafi, P (2017). Tahlīl-e jameshenākhti-ye khoshun-e khānegi ‘aliye zanān va rābte-ye ān bā ehsās-e amniyat dar khāne (moṭāle’e mūrdi-ye zanān 18-54 sāl-e shahr-e Miyaneh) [Sociological analysis of domestic violence against women and its impact on the sense of security(Case study 18 women 54 years old in shahr miyaneh)]. Strategic Research on Social Issues, 6(1), 47-72.] 

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