Future of Afghan Women in Limbo after U.S. Troops Leave

After U.S. troops recently left the largest American base in Afghanistan, Bagram Air Base, the future of Afghanistan remains unknown. In particular, the lives of Afghan women are now at stake due to the gender inequality that still exists in the country.

Midwifery students in Afghanistan. United Nations Photo. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Due to the Taliban’s strict rules restricting women’s rights, gender inequality remains a threatening reality in Afghanistan. Countries retreating from Afghanistan—the U.S. included—are leaving behind a dark future for Afghan women and girls, who face serious crises of health, education and violence. The U.S. left Bagram Air Base, its largest base in Afghanistan, on July 1.

Afghanistan has a history of violence within the country after foreign forces have retreated their troops. For example, when the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988, the U.S. looked away, and Afghanistan erupted in a factional war that killed thousands. During this conflict, Afghan women were raped by fighting forces.

Photos of Afghan women cowering under the whips of Taliban members haunt history, and they were the cause of feminist sympathies that emerged across the U.S. Those activists hoped that American involvement in the area would bring relief to a tortured country.

Since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, Afghan women have not wasted one minute in fighting for their rights.  Today, many women serve in important governmental roles, like as parliament members and ambassadors. Many women are also musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, or inventors. In fact, during the pandemic, the Afghan girls robotics team created low-cost ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients.

Women on the job in Afghanistan. United Nations Photo. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

In more good news, infant mortality has decreased and life expectancy has increased. Foreign involvement has had a big hand in accomplishing this. However, now that international troops are withdrawing, aid has been shrinking and pledges to help Afghanistan are less frequent.

Along with the U.S., several other embassies have also withdrawn their troops from Afghanistan, including Australia.

In an interview with Human Rights Watch, Afghan women said that they now face obstacles in accessing care due to costs, insecurity, and scarcity of providers. Furthermore, as countries withdraw from Afghanistan, the unknown future of the country could mean further violence that would produce even more problems for women and families.

GET INVOLVED

To help the fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan, consider working, interning, or volunteering with Women for Afghan Women WAW. WAW was founded to advocate for women then living under the brutal rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Now, it is the largest organization for Afghan women and girls globally and the largest women’s organization in Afghanistan. Afghan Women’s Educational Center also focuses on Afghan women’s rights—they are a non-profit women-led national organization that reduces vulnerability among marginalized communities with a special focus on women and children. They offer various jobs and projects to get involved with.

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.

A Glimpse at Azerbaijan, Central Asia’s ‘Land of Fire’

Although a relatively new nation, Azerbaijan’s multifaceted culture from its historic tea rituals to its unique pomegranate festival makes it especially intriguing.

 A mountainous region in Azerbaijan. Pozziss. CC0.

Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic located in the southern Caucasus, stands as a diverse and exquisite country. Although the Russian imperialism of the past retains some influence, the “Land of Fire” prides itself on its many unique traditions which can be fully experienced today.  

Tea Rituals

 Black tea served in an armudu. Idin Ebrahimi. Unsplash

Tea is a prevalent part of Azeri culture, to the extent that it is served with every meal. The locals predominantly drink black tea and serve it in a pear-like glass called an armudu. This tradition was passed down from medieval times, when black tea was taken alongside a sugar cube to avoid assassination, as sugar tends to react with potential toxins in the drink. This tradition continues even today, as locals can be seen taking a bite of a sugar cube before sipping their tea. 

 


The Importance of Fire

 Temple of Fire in Baku. Diego Delso. CC BY-SA 4.0

Azerbaijan is also known for its national symbol of fire, and the country is recognized as a place where “the sacred fire is preserved.” “Azer” in Persian means “fire,” and the entire country is known as the “Land of Fire.” Although the exact reason behind this cannot be tracked to one specific moment, there are various potential reasons for why fire holds such a special place in this nation. First, although a large proportion of Azeris are Muslim, Zoroastrianism still holds a large influence on Azerbaijan. Zoroastrianism focuses on the worship of fire, water, Earth and wind. Thus, respect for nature is highly ingrained within Azeri culture. Moreover, the country’s “huge underground gas deposits” commonly lead to natural flames. 

 

Food 

 Azeri dish known as kelem dolmasi. CC BY 3.0

Food is also a large part of Azeri culture, and one can find an array of distinct, delicious and healthy dishes. The reason for this is the large farming culture in Azerbaijan, which is possible due to the country’s extensive tracts of fertile land. This means that the nation grows a multitude of vegetables and fruits, with flavorful meats and herbs rounding out Azeri meals. Due to Azerbaijan’s vibrant culinary scene, food is given a high position in culture, where sharing food with another person is a sign of friendship. 


 Goychay Pomegranate Festival

 A booth at the Goychay Pomegranate Festival. Moonsun1981. CC BY-SA 3.0

Although many fruits are popular in Azerbaijan due to its fertile land, pomegranates are given the highest title as the symbol for love, luxuriance and eternal life. To commemorate the importance of this fruit, a pomegranate festival known as Nar Bayrami is celebrated every November in the city of Goychay, where over 50,000 tons of pomegranates are produced annually. Guests in this festival are welcomed by locals with an array of pomegranate dishes ranging from jams to baked goods to juices. Moreover, during the festival many vendors set up their shops with distinct varieties of this fruit. Other festivities include traditional dancing, instrumental music by local musicians, and competitions such as picking out the heaviest pomegranates from the lot. 

 Strides Toward Gender Equality

Kalbajar School in Azerbaijan. World Bank Photo Collection. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

In 1918, Azerbaijan became the first country in the Islamic world to give women the right to vote. Gender equality comes partly as a legacy of Russian imperialism, as the culture placed large importance on respecting women. Women’s equality continues to be a notable social norm in Azerbaijan, and it is normal for Azeri women to hold positions of political power. On a day-to-day basis, men commonly offer their seats to women and hold the door for them.


Gracious Hospitality

 Two Azeri women picking out tomatoes. Asian Development Bank. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 Generous behavior isn’t only reserved for women in Azerbaijan; it extends to guests as well. Hospitality is a common trait across the majority of Azeri citizens, who are often willing to provide shelter and food to their guests, regardless of the trouble they must go through. If one receives the luxury of going to a Azeri’s home, they should remember to take off their shoes before entering, and to remain standing until told where to sit. Moreover, as Azerbaijan is renowned for its food, guests should not refuse a serving as that may be misunderstood as a rude gesture. 

 In all, Azerbaijan’s riveting culture makes it an intriguing nation to visit. Despite its minuscule size, the country has much to offer to those willing to take a chance on it. 

WANT TO LEARN MORE? CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO AND EXPLORE THE MAGNIFICENCE OF AZERBAIJAN.

Swati Agarwal

Swati is a sophomore at University of California, San Diego, where she is studying Environmental Sciences and Theatre. Although born in India, she was raised in Tokyo, which gave her the opportunity to interact with diverse people from distinct cultures. She is passionate about writing, and hopes to inspire others by spreading awareness about social justice issues and highlighting the uniqueness of the world.

Denmark Reckons with the #MeToo Movement 

Years after the #MeToo movement first began, Danish women are demanding gender equality in the workplace. After allegations of sexual harassment across multiple industries, leaders are committing to change. 

Nyhavn Canal in Copenhagen, Denmark. D Rishi. CC BY 2.0. 

On paper, Denmark has some of the highest markers of gender equality in the world. Around 40% of Danish parliament representatives are women, and the country’s first female prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, was appointed in 2011. Parental leave is split equally between Danish men and women, and Danish men often spend as much time caring for the home as Danish women. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report ranked Denmark as 14th globally, which means that Denmark’s gender divide is statistically very small. 

Despite Denmark’s pride in gender equality, Danish women are speaking out against the misogyny and sexual harassment that permeates Danish work culture. At a comedy awards show in August, entertainment personality and host Sofie Linde broke the silence on sexism in the Danish entertainment industry in a bombshell speech. Following her speech, over 1,600 women signed a letter in support of complaints about sexual harassment in the media industry. 

This public acknowledgment of sexual misconduct has emboldened more women to speak out. Over 600 doctors and medical students have signed a petition to end gender-based harassment in hospitals, universities and laboratories. In the political sphere, over 300 female politicians have called for reform, using 79 anonymous testimonies to illustrate the overt sexism that plagues the Danish government. Camilla Soee, one of the politicians  spearheading this movement, told the BBC: "Once and for all, we wanted to prove that sexism and sexual harassment is part of the political environment."

Former mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen. Jenny Andersson. CC BY 3.0. 

As these women confront the men who have both enabled and engaged in widespread sexism in the workplace, many powerful men have been pressured to step down from their positions following allegations of misconduct. The mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, resigned from office on Oct. 19, 2020, after multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment. In a statement to The Copenhagen Post, Jensen said, “I want to be a positive part of the culture change process that has been launched with the second wave of MeToo. I want to go from being a part of the problem to being a part of the solution.”

The Danish pride in gender equality has led to mixed receptions of this movement. Because of the Danish perception that Denmark is gender inclusive and equitable, many Danes believe that feminism is an unnecessary movement. In a poll conducted by the YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project, only one in six Danes reported themselves as a feminist. The same poll found that two in five Danes believed that the #MeToo movement was unnecessary. As #MeToo finds new footing in Denmark, perhaps attitudes toward Danish feminism will evolve. The women leading this movement are determined to make a lasting impact in the fight for women’s rights.

Sarah Leidich

is currently an English and Film major at Barnard College of Columbia University. Sarah is inspired by global art in every form, and hopes to explore the intersection of activism, art, and storytelling through her writing. 

Sri Lanka Strives Toward Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment

Sri Lanka’s efforts to combat the gender gap allow women to support themselves and their communities. 

Women selling produce at a market in Sri Lanka. imke.sta. CC2.0

Nicknamed the “pearl of the Indian Ocean” and famous for its spices, unique culture and lush ecosystems, Sri Lanka is also known for its advances in gender equality. The island nation became in 1960 the first country in the world to elect a female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Sri Lanka has also long provided free and compulsory education for men and women up to the university level.

Even so, high levels of gender-based violence are present throughout the country and the unemployment rate of women is twice that of men. Most women occupy low-paying positions in agriculture and the garment industry with little chance of economic mobility. Although well-respected in the Asia-Pacific region, Sri Lanka’s educational system often enforces traditional ideological and cultural beliefs, which can perpetuate negative stereotypes about women.  A university-level education does not guarantee women positions of power, with large disparities between men and women in science, technology and political positions throughout the country. Additionally, a 26-year-long civil war (1983-2009) isolated Sri Lanka from the modern world, allowing traditional gender roles to thrive in war-affected areas.

Developing economic opportunities for women has the potential to overcome barriers to gender equality. Here are two organizations working to do just that:

Women receiving medical training provided by the Women’s Development Centre. Rajapaksa. CC2.0

The Women’s Development Center

This Sri Lanka-based nongovernmental organization has made incredible strides in supporting at-risk women, children and people with disabilities since its founding in 1986. With the goal of creating opportunities for marginalized groups, the group is on its way to “creating a just and secure society for women and children.” Although the organization has a multifaceted approach, social enterprises and economic empowerment remain its key goals. The social enterprise “Sthree”, meaning “woman” in Tamil and Sinhala, was founded in 2011 with the goal of empowering women and their local communities. The platform provides a market in Kandy for Sri Lankan women and disabled people to sell handmade products, such as saris, jewelry, decor, snacks and chutneys, recycled paper products and eco-friendly purses and handbags. Sthree also provides training and skill-building workshops for women and disabled individuals. Sthree is beginning to expand to an international clientele, even hosting an international exhibition and sale in Sweden in 2016.

A woman making brooms for a woman’s cooperative in Sri Lanka. Foley. CC2.0

Puthukkudiyiruppu Women Entrepreneurs’ Cooperative Society

The PTK Cooperative, initially founded by Krishnakumar Jeyaranjini and 14 other women in 2012, provides a platform for war-affected women to support themselves and their families economically. The business has expanded over the years, producing detergent, chili powder and rice flour. The organization has the backing of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which helps link it to buyers, markets and social enterprises. The organization enables collaboration between women from different ethnic groups and communities in Sri Lanka, helping to create social cohesion and tolerance. The organization continues to defy gender norms and stereotypes.  “Often the words ‘woman’ and ‘detergent’ bring out gendered images of a woman washing clothes at home, not of a woman owning or running a successful detergent-producing enterprise,” said Simrin Singh, director of the ILO country office for Sri Lanka. “It is stories of our work empowering women like Jeyaranjini, building block by block, that are the essential inspiration so many other women in this country could use to break the barriers to their empowerment.”

Although Sri Lanka has made considerable progress toward gender equality in the last 50 years, many obstacles remain. Empowering women at a grassroots level helps provide women more economic agency while ensuring the well-being of generations to come. 

Megan Gürer

Megan is a Turkish-American student at Wellesley College in Massachusetts studying Biological Sciences. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she dreams of exploring the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, singing, and composing music.