Afghanistan, Kabul. Shakiva, women in burka in her bedroom, holding photo of slain husband.
Bamiyan, Afghanistan 2007 (R)
Women who had once been doctors, lawyers and professionals in this country are now beaten by their husbands for a violation as menial as showing an inch of skin on their wrists. I was impressed with the resiliency of Afghan women who were so determined to take reclaim their lives. Many secretly meet in backroom classes learning to read so they know if...
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Afghanistan, Kabul. Shakiva, women in burka in her bedroom, holding photo of slain husband.
Bamiyan, Afghanistan 2007 (R)
Women who had once been doctors, lawyers and professionals in this country are now beaten by their husbands for a violation as menial as showing an inch of skin on their wrists. I was impressed with the resiliency of Afghan women who were so determined to take reclaim their lives. Many secretly meet in backroom classes learning to read so they know if they’re buying a box of milk or cement from the local store, or how to handle money so they can count change from a taxi ride. Rarely will you ever see a woman driving a car. Others learn vocational skills such as weaving, sewing and computer work. In Kabul, I attended a judo class for young girls. In Bamiyan, where there is even a female governor, I met a small contingency of women police officers, as they practiced shooting their AK-47s and hand guns at the rifle range. Education, women have come to realize, is a major step of empowerment that no one can take away from them.
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