Sample Creative Writing On Women Empowerment In Afghanistan

Introduction

This paper is about women empowerment in Afghanistan. It shall describe a brief historical background of women empowerment in Afghanistan as well as women participation in social areas like law and politics. This paper shall further define strategies that can be employed to increase women participation. The final part of this paper is an annotated bibliography of on the same topic of women empowerment in Afghanistan (Ahmed-Ghosh, 2006).

Background Information

Women in Afghanistan have long been subjected to harsh conditions. The women in Afghanistan have had their lives determined by laws that are tribal rather than constitutional and Islamic laws. For example, tribal laws have been used to force women into marriages that are more of alliances between families. The women are forced to stay in such marriages, through tribal laws, and pledge total allegiance to their husbands (Skaine, 2008).
Women were for a long time prohibited to go to school so that they would not get an education like their male counterparts. Women were typically deemed as vessels of honor and where consequently expected to operate within the domestic arena where they were voiceless and covered themselves with veils. The most constrained times for the Afghanistan women had to be during the periods of the Taliban and Mujahedeen uprising (Dyvik, 2014).

Female Participation in Social Areas

Female participation in social areas like politics and law has always been minimal even with empowerment programs springing up. In the year 2002, an agreement was entered into to address the gaps in the rights of women in Afghanistan. Some quotas were set up to establish participation of women in areas of administration. Unfortunately, such a process is heavily reliant on the ability of the judiciary system to enforce such matters. In Afghanistan, women who attempt to take up leadership roles especially in the political realm are often time the subject of intimidation and safety threats. The Taliban still has a huge influence on the judicial system in the country, and the Koran is more referred to than the constitution (Abirafeh, 2009).

Possible Strategies to Increase Women Participation in Social Areas

In a country that is not entirely governed by the rule of law or the constitution, implementation of matters such as women empowerment can tend to be cumbersome. The government of Afghanistan is only recognized by some like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. The Taliban governs using the Koran which is also biased when it comes to women matters (Rostami Povey, 2003).
In as far as strategy is concerned; the international community is better placed to offer solutions for the women in Afghanistan. Such programs have been taking place through organizations such as the UNDP, the Afghan Women Organization etc. The international community can also assist by reinforcing the Afghanistan government through recognizing it and working with it so that it can enforce the constitution and the rule of law (Emadi, 2002).

Conclusion

Empowerment of women in Afghanistan still has a long way to go. Important milestones have however been made with women now getting an education, they are more involved in the civil service (twenty-two percent of women are in the civil service) and in other areas such as the judiciary (juvenile and family courts only). For a country that has serious political and social instability, the future is promising.

Annotated Bibliography

Abirafeh, L. (2009). Gender and international aid in Afghanistan: The politics and effects of intervention. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.
Ahmed-Ghosh, H. (2006). Voices of Afghan women: Human rights and economic development. International Feminist Journal Of Politics, 8(1), 110-128. doi:10.1080/14616740500415508
Dyvik, S. L. (2014). Women as ‘Practitioners’ and ‘Targets’. International Feminist Journal Of Politics, 16(3), 410-429. doi:10.1080/14616742.2013.779139
Emadi, H. (2002). Repression, resistance, and women in Afghanistan. Westport, Conn: Praeger.
Rostami Povey, E. (2003). Women in Afghanistan: passive victims of the borga or active social participants?. Development In Practice, 13(2/3), 266.
Skaine, R. (2008). Women of Afghanistan in the post-Taliban era: How lives have changed and where they stand today. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co.