Anti-women structures and violence against women
Gender oppression in Afghanistan has many factors and it’s the patriarchal structure of those factors that influence our decisions and actions. Women in our society experience oppression and violence in a systematic manner as family structures, education, culture, economy, and politics in Afghanistan are both male-centred (androcentric) and misogynist.
Family
In the institution of the family, personality, skills, and the worldview of individuals are formed. In societies like Afghanistan, the family institution organizes most of the social activities and actions and also controls and supervises the behaviour and future path of individuals. One salient feature in societies where the family is the centre of many activities and decisions is the superiority of men over women.
The family structure in Afghanistan produces and reproduces discriminatory and misogynist values and norms, generation after generation. There are many examples of these values and norms, so here are a few to make the discussion concrete:
a) Gender preference: Parents’ desire for a male child and their aversion to the birth of a female child are part of the dominant culture in Afghanistan. This dislike and interest (which leads to discrimination and violence against girls and women) influences upbringing, education, nutrition, entertainment, freedom, travel, ownership, social activities, choosing a spouse, etc., and cements the position of women as the second gender.
b) Guardianship: The necessity of male guardianship and the imposition of male authority on women is another example of unequal gender structures that lead to the production of oppression of women. . Not having a male guardian in such a patriarchal society is a serious problem for any girl or woman.
c) Defining domestic roles: Social roles are determined by the culture and structures of the society. In Afghanistan, social roles are based on the criterion of sex: being a woman or a man. With urbanization and the formation of modern capitalist social relations, women’s social roles were transformed around the world, although they were still far from reaching a position of equality with men. Unfortunately, societies such as Afghanistan are stuck in the pre-modern era and still treat women as the second sex and an incomplete human being.
d) Ignoring and denying women’s individual identities: Identity expresses our social responsibility and position. In Afghanistan, women’s identities are defined by their relationship to their father, husband, or brother. In many very conservative areas, some men are ashamed to mention the names of their womenfolk. It is said that women and girls aren’t included in some census counts. In addition, the tradition of not inscribing women’s names on wedding cards, announcements of deaths, and tombstones are some obvious examples of denying women’s identities.
Education
Formal and informal education in Afghanistan promotes gender inequality as well as violence against women. If the opportunities for acquiring skills and education are not equal for men and women, then the resultant social inequalities perpetuate oppression. For example, education is usually done in both a formal and informal setting, with home and peer groups being the information environments while school and universities are formal education environments. Families prioritize and invest on male children’s education and training, which is oriented toward important social and economic roles, and more facilities are available for boys’ education. In contrast, women face many barriers for pursuing higher education. Now, the Taliban have deprived women of the right to education as the main pillar of their anti-women policy.
Culture
Afghanistan’s culture is androcentric and misogynistic. The language and literature of Afghanistan is full of misogynist concepts and it is easy to see examples of the patriarchal and misogynistic culture in everyday conversations, proverbs, prayers, and even common insults: women are weak; a woman is half of a man; a woman is deficient in intellect; women are satan’s friend; woman was created for the comfort of man.
Economy
The economy is androcentric in Afghanistan. Not many women do not own property, and many are not even considered owners of family property. There may be exceptions, but that is the general situation. That inability to own property is an important material factor for the perpetuation of gender oppression.
Women also face social and cultural restrictions in their ability to establish businesses. The number of women engaged in economic or entrepreneurial activities is very small.
Politics
Afghanistan’s politics is also androcentric and an arena of gender inequality. First of all, men exercise leadership and authority in the family. By extension, political action and decisions in society are the domain of men and women rarely participate in this aspect of social life. Patriarchal mores prevent women from having equal access to political participation. The Taliban have declared war on women’s political roles and are adamant that women be invisible behind walls.
The current situation does not have to become an inevitable destiny and women should work for change in cooperation with men who understand the need for women’s social and political participation. Awareness of the complexity of misogyny and the strength of patriarchy helps us to not be happy with only superficial changes but to strive for radical social transformation. The return of the Taliban to power may have intensified women’s oppression but it has also exposed the weaknesses of the backward and misogynistic society. Now more than ever, we know that misogyny is a sign of rotting backwardness, and, if not eliminated, will cause immense social stagnation and multilayered deprivation.
Mohaddesa Hosaini is a freelance writer from Afghanistan.
