Considering the focus of my cultural project is on religion in Afghanistan, I thought it would be interesting to explore secularism or at least an era when the role of Islam was not overwhelming (i.e., during the Taliban regime). Moreover, I also wanted to examine the country's past modernity; that is not to say that there is no semblance of modernity in Afghanistan today, but still is in somewhat of a rebuilding state. I also think what drew to learning more about Afghan modernity were the stories I heard from my parents who had grown up in the nation during the 1950s, '60s and '70s. From my perspective, I feel that the media often portrays Afghans as living a backwards society; however, such is not the case and certainly was not when my parents grew up in the nation.
I think one of aspect of Afghanistan's history that has not been fully understood is the role and rights of women in the nation. People assume that the religious beliefs present within Afghanistan having been holding women back for centuries. On the other hand, there was a time when women in Afghanistan had close to, if not the same, opportunities as men. For instance, in recent times, most people see photographs of Afghan women fully covered in burqas or chadris, as pictured here. From my perspective, it seems that most people assume something like the chadri is something that supports the notion that Afghanistan is a nation composed of extremist Muslims; which could not be further from the truth. In fact, the chadri was not worn until the Taliban gained prominence in Afghanistan. Women were forced to wear the chadri by the Taliban and they obliged, since fighting back likely lead to death. Interestingly, in the '50, '60, '70s and even the '80s, it would be close to impossible to find a woman wearing a chadri, especially in major cities such as Kabul. It was not uncommon to see women in modern, Western-like, clothing, as seen in this picture.
Another subject that is often frustrating to hear regards education in Afghanistan. Many people assume that Islam forbids or limits educational opportunities, yet it is the actions of extremist groups (e.g., the Taliban) that create such horrendous conditions. Women in Afghanistan not only had the opportunity to go to school, but many often went on to pursue higher education; like my mother and other family members. In an article for Foreign Policy, Mohammad Qayoumi, who grew up in Afghanistan during the '50s and '60s, noted, "A half-century ago, Afghan women pursued careers in medicine; men and women mingled casually at movie theaters and university campuses in Kabul." Certainly, women and men once had the same opportunities for an education, as seen in this photo of a science class that shows men and women sitting beside one another working in a lab.
Of course, this is all not to say that Islam did not have an influence in Afghanistan during some its more progressive times. Islam has had a role in the nation for centuries, and only recently has that role drastically shaped the nation's health and modernity.
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