So, like, ever since the U.S. army pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, life for Afghan women has gone from bad to like, totally horrible. The Taliban, you know, those extreme guys who took over, have basically turned back the clock on women’s rights. It’s like, all the progress that happened in the last 20 years? Gone. Poof. And now Afghan women are dealing with some seriously harsh rules and it’s, like, completely heart-wrenching. Let’s dive into this mess, okay?
Bye-Bye, Women’s Rights
First off, the education sitch is, like, a disaster. The Taliban first banned girls from going to high school—so unfair, right? Then, in December 2022, they were like, “Nope, you can’t go to universities either.” Now millions of girls and women are, like, totally out of school. Like, seriously? In 2024, girls still can’t go to school?
“Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are banned from high schools and universities,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. “This is not only a human rights violation but also a tragedy for the future of the country.”
And it gets worse! In the same month they banned education, the Taliban were, like, “Oh, and women can’t work for NGOs anymore.” So, women who were, like, helping people with health care, education, and, you know, feeding the hungry? Yeah, they were told to stay home. Like, how is anyone supposed to survive?
“The exclusion of women from NGOs is a death sentence for Afghan families who depend on these services,” said Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. “We’ve seen a sharp decline in healthcare access, especially for women, and an increase in child malnutrition.”
Dress Codes and Gender Segregation, Ugh
And, girl, don’t even get me started on the strict dress codes and, like, all the rules about where women can go. The Taliban are forcing women to wear, like, full-body coverings (hello, burqa), and they can’t even leave their house without a guy with them. Like, can you imagine not being able to go more than 45 miles without a male relative? That’s the rule now!
The religious police are, like, everywhere, just waiting for women to slip up. And when they do? They can get fined, humiliated, or even beaten for something as simple as not wearing their burqa properly. Ugh, it’s, like, so unfair!
“The systematic exclusion of women from education and work has catastrophic consequences for Afghanistan’s social and economic future,” said Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch. “This ban is devastating for the long-term stability of Afghanistan and, more immediately, for the women whose futures have been stolen.”
It’s, Like, 1990s Taliban All Over Again
So yeah, this whole thing is giving major déjà vu, like back when the Taliban ruled in the late ’90s. Back then, women were, like, super oppressed, and now it’s happening all over again. I mean, there are reports of forced marriages where Taliban fighters just take women as their wives, and like, the girls have no say at all.
Heather Barr, the same women’s rights queen from earlier, says, “We are hearing increasingly about forced marriages, particularly in rural areas where the Taliban’s control is absolute. These women have no choice—they are given to Taliban fighters as spoils of war.” So basically women are being treated as property again.
Even women’s rights activists are, like, in danger all the time. Some have gone into hiding or escaped the country. Mahbouba Seraj, who’s basically a legend for speaking out, said in January 2023, “The Taliban want to erase women from Afghanistan, but we’re not going quietly.”
The World is, Like, Trying to Help But… It’s Not Working
So, like, the international community is freaking out, obviously. They’re, like, “This is totally unacceptable!” Countries have imposed sanctions, cut off aid, and they keep telling the Taliban to, like, stop. In June 2023, the U.N. even passed a whole resolution saying the Taliban’s treatment of women is, like, way out of line.
“The rights of Afghan women and girls are fundamental to the future stability of Afghanistan,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “The Taliban’s actions not only harm Afghan women but also cripple the country’s potential for progress.”
But, TBH, the Taliban don’t seem to care. They’ve totally doubled down on their rules, and now groups like the United Nations World Food Programme and others are struggling to even deliver aid. Like, women were doing so much of the work to help people, and now without them? It’s, like, a total disaster.
“The ban on women working is making it impossible to help people,” said David Beasley from the World Food Programme. “We can’t reach the women and kids who need it the most.”
Afghan Women Are, Like, Not Giving Up
But listen to this: Afghan women? They are so resilient. Even with all these insane rules, they’re still fighting back. There are, like, underground schools popping up all over the place, and girls are secretly learning in private homes. Like, they’re not giving up on their dreams, even though it’s super dangerous.
And can you believe it? Women have been protesting in places like Kabul and Herat. Like, actual protests! Even though they know they could get beaten or arrested, these women are, like, “We’re not backing down.” One protester from Kabul said in April 2024, “We’ve lost everything, but we won’t lose our voices. The Taliban want us gone, but we refuse to disappear.”
And OMG, you just have to admire their bravery.
What’s Next?
So yeah, the Taliban are, like, trying to erase women from Afghan society, but Afghan women aren’t going quietly. They’re protesting, secretly educating themselves, and, like, holding onto hope. But, let’s be real, the situation is still, like, super bleak.
The international community is, like, doing what they can, but until the Taliban back down (which they haven’t shown any sign of doing, BTW), it’s going to be an uphill battle. But Afghan women? They’re so not giving up.
Even in this nightmare, they’re fighting for their future, one brave step at a time.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
