Have things changed for women in Afghanistan since the Taliban
August 11, 2007

 
The Taliban believe that "the face of a woman is a source of corruption for men who are not related to them."

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Taliban can bite me.

How are things different now for women in Afghanistan than under the Taliban? I'll do a comparison with an excerpt from the wikipedia entry regarding the Taliban's gender policies, to illustrate (and please note these are just my own observations; maybe someone else here would feel differently):

Various forms of the hijab have always been the norm in Afghanistan, but NOT the burka. More and more Afghan women prefer to use a massive scarf to cover their head and bodies, leaving their faces visible. Iranian and Arab styles of the hijab are also growing in popularity (black long-sleeve dresses with hoods, made of very light fabric and also leaving the face exposed). I wouldn't mind having one of those myself, actually, for my travels in Muslim countries. And, you know, black is so slimming...

Not only is the burka demeaning, it's dangerous: navigating the perilous streets of Kabul, even with a mahram (who walks about two meters in front of a woman) can be hazardous to your health, because the burka severely impedes your vision and hearing.

The Taliban's treatment of women was, to be blunt, a war on women. If you have never read the Wikipedia entry on this, you really should.

Anyone read "The Handmaid's Tale" lately?

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