Photo by Christine Nesbitt from UNICEF
The Taliban has complete control of Afghanistan and their politics. Starting September 18, 2023, one of their new policies is to uphold Afghan girls right to education. This decision has created outrage across the globe. Organizations such as the United Nations and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) have reached out pleading to protect the right to education for Afghan girls. Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education cannot wait reported that “80 per cent of school-age Afghan girls are currently not in the classroom,” which means 2.5 million girls have been rejected of their human right to the opportunity of education. This policy is an outrage to the feminist community because it rejects their belief that everyone should have an equal opportunity to education. Feminists recognize that the empowerment of women through education is not just a human right, but also an incentive for positive change. The Taliban upholding girl’s access to education is what allows men to keep dominating their society. Gatekeeping education from women is the equivalent of brainwashing them. In this blog we are going examine the importance of education for young women in Afghanistan through a feminist lens while making the call for the Taliban to ensure accessibility.
Education is a tool
Education is the driving factor for the empowerment of women. It provides them with the knowledge and skills to advance in the world. With education, women can stick up for themselves and make informed decisions. In Afghanistan, women haven’t gotten that opportunity. Instead, they have been faced with discrimination and violence. The Taliban have decided that in order for them to keep ruling, they need to hinder girls’ development and harm them if they choose to speak. What they don’t realize is, if education for women were to be implemented in Afghanistan, this could alter those existing challenges. Fortunately, the ECW is standing up for those girls by launching a campaign #AfghanGirlsVoices.
Feminists recognize that education is much more than an opportunity, it’s a gateway for women to advance in male dominated societies, such as Afghanistan. It allows women to escape the constraints of traditional expectations and gender roles. Education offers women choices, autonomy, and hope. Afghan girls deserve the opportunity to education, so they can thrive and help build a brighter future for country of Afghanistan. In America, we are blessed with equal opportunities for education. Just imagine the outrage in our country if we woke tomorrow and we weren’t allowed to go to school because the government said so. Naturally we would protest, but in Afghanistan, if you protest, then you’re putting your life on the line.
Feminist Plea to taliban
The Taliban’s decision to uphold girls’ rights to education is a global tragedy. From a feminist lens, when girls are educated, they can not only transform their own lives but also contribute to the country of Afghanistan. With the proper education women can contribute to the social, economic, and political development of the nation. It’s a shame that the Taliban won’t let this happen. Fortunately, the rest of the world is watching, and they’re doing everything they can to reverse the decision. With organizations like the United Nations, and the ECW pressing the issue, it puts more pressure on the Taliban. The ECW is planning on running a multi-year resilience program in Afghanistan, that aims to support more than 250,000 children across the country.
the hope
The decision for the Taliban to uphold the right to education for Afghan girls resonates deeply with the feminist community. This decision violates a human’s basic right to education, and gender equality, while also neglecting the idea that women play a central role in shaping their nations future. The world pleads for the Taliban to understand the importance of girl’s education and hopes that the Taliban will work towards a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 