Women in Afghanistan
The Novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini explores the plight of women in Afghanistan; the focus is put on three women's Nana, Mariam, and Laila. Women in Afghanistan often face difficult and unfortunate situations. Their stories portray some of the major issues in third world countries such as inequality, poor education, and child marriage. The rights of women are close to none, and the abuse they go through are not only outsiders but in their families as well. As traditions differ in many cultures one thing that does not change is that women are the caregivers, and they watch after the family. In the book women are viewed not treasure but property for men.
Women suffer violence not only by the Taliban force in Afghanistan but from their biological relatives and their husbands for many years. Women have been oppressed and treated as second class citizen. When Mariam disappoints her husband Rasheed with her cooking, he physically abuses her. It is written, “Rasheed returns with a handful of pebbles and forces Mariam’s mouth open and stuffs them in. He then orders her to chew the pebbles. In her fear, she does as he asks, breaking the molars in the back of her mouth” (Hosseini,94). Womens like Mariam have no help against abuses like these and because of that they have to endure the pain and obey orders. Often times, women were charged with crimes they did not commit. Young and old women were all treated in the same violent fashion. There are many cases in which "they chopped off hands" because they suspected a crime. (Hosseini 318) As Article 5 in the Universal Declaration of human rights states “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. ” At first Rasheed treats Mariam decently, but after she suffers miscarriage after miscarriage, he abuses her both physically and verbally. It becomes clear that Rasheed's only use for Mariam is in her ability to replace the son he lost years ago.Both domestic abuse, psychological and/or physical, are thing people like Mariam and Laila have to endure everyday in their lives.
Besides physical abuse women also take a toll when they go through life uneducated. In the novel, Mariam and Laila are fortunate to receive some form of education. Mariam was tutored by Mullah Faizullah about the Quran and as a result learned to read and write. Mariam had dreams of going to a real school but Nana rejected the idea. She said that a girl needs "only one skill. And it's this: tahamul. Endure."(Hosseini 17) Nana shows the mindset of many traditional families in Afghanistan. Due to her lack of education, Mariam was unaware of the political disorder or life outside of the kolba. Nana's anger also held Mariam back. She had only Mariam to spend time with and school would take away from that time. On the other hand, Laila was raised in a household in which education was advocated. In contrast to Nana, Laila's father was very encouraging. He tells her, "I know you're still young, but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You're a very, very bright girl." (Hosseini 103) There were countless books in her father's library for her access. Even despite all terror and war going around them, her father was able to shine light into her life. He knew the situation with the Taliban very well. Despite this he told his daughter, "You know how I feel about that. That would be our absolute top priority, to get you a good education, high school then college. (Hosseini 136) This mindset was present in many people, but wasn't allowed to be explored.The literacy rate of women in Afghanistan is currently 24.2%. This situation worsened with the rise of the Taliban. Laila suffered, as did many other girls who were being schooled. During the Taliban period, only three percent of women were educated. All schools for girls and universities for women were closed. Women are kept at home and denied the chance to get an education. These women grow up not knowing math, safe-sex or ways to keep themselves healthy. Article 2 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.”. Clearly under the government of the taliban this human right was violated.
In Afghanistan everything is based on the muslim culture, and the women in Afghanistan have no power over their career path and whom they marry, also they have to live by the decisions of the men around them. Nana is a great example of this where she is put into an arranged marriage, to marry a boy from Shindand, who was a young seller, at the time she was only 15. Nana said “ A man's accusing finger always finds a women”(Hosseini,7), Nana is accused of forcing herself on Jalil when in a mutual relationship. Nana’s life goes through many obstacles with Jalil, which in the end lead to her suicide. Article 16 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says “Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.”Mariam was forced by her dad and his wives to marry Rasheed, and the attitude that the women have toward these kind of situations is unbelievably obedient. People like Nana, Mariam, and Laila don't have a choice or a say how they want to live their lives. Additionally, womens have no control of their life decisions in Afghanistan.The Taliban encouraged girls under the age of 16 to enter into marriage, the most recent surveys estimate 46 percent of Afghan women are married by age 18, 15 percent of them before age 15. According to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, between 60-80 per cent of all marriages in Afghanistan are forced. Many women or girls that get married under the age of 18 have misscarriage. One in four Afghani women age 20-24 had their first child before age 18.
Khaled Hosseini in A Thousand Splendid Suns only gives a reader a glimpse into the strength of Afghan women. Islam is a religion which defends human rights and holds women as equals as men. The Taliban put to shame the religion of Islam with their despicable practices. It is unfortunate woman in Afghanistan endure harsh living conditions and do not have equal right as men.
Women suffer violence not only by the Taliban force in Afghanistan but from their biological relatives and their husbands for many years. Women have been oppressed and treated as second class citizen. When Mariam disappoints her husband Rasheed with her cooking, he physically abuses her. It is written, “Rasheed returns with a handful of pebbles and forces Mariam’s mouth open and stuffs them in. He then orders her to chew the pebbles. In her fear, she does as he asks, breaking the molars in the back of her mouth” (Hosseini,94). Womens like Mariam have no help against abuses like these and because of that they have to endure the pain and obey orders. Often times, women were charged with crimes they did not commit. Young and old women were all treated in the same violent fashion. There are many cases in which "they chopped off hands" because they suspected a crime. (Hosseini 318) As Article 5 in the Universal Declaration of human rights states “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. ” At first Rasheed treats Mariam decently, but after she suffers miscarriage after miscarriage, he abuses her both physically and verbally. It becomes clear that Rasheed's only use for Mariam is in her ability to replace the son he lost years ago.Both domestic abuse, psychological and/or physical, are thing people like Mariam and Laila have to endure everyday in their lives.
Besides physical abuse women also take a toll when they go through life uneducated. In the novel, Mariam and Laila are fortunate to receive some form of education. Mariam was tutored by Mullah Faizullah about the Quran and as a result learned to read and write. Mariam had dreams of going to a real school but Nana rejected the idea. She said that a girl needs "only one skill. And it's this: tahamul. Endure."(Hosseini 17) Nana shows the mindset of many traditional families in Afghanistan. Due to her lack of education, Mariam was unaware of the political disorder or life outside of the kolba. Nana's anger also held Mariam back. She had only Mariam to spend time with and school would take away from that time. On the other hand, Laila was raised in a household in which education was advocated. In contrast to Nana, Laila's father was very encouraging. He tells her, "I know you're still young, but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You're a very, very bright girl." (Hosseini 103) There were countless books in her father's library for her access. Even despite all terror and war going around them, her father was able to shine light into her life. He knew the situation with the Taliban very well. Despite this he told his daughter, "You know how I feel about that. That would be our absolute top priority, to get you a good education, high school then college. (Hosseini 136) This mindset was present in many people, but wasn't allowed to be explored.The literacy rate of women in Afghanistan is currently 24.2%. This situation worsened with the rise of the Taliban. Laila suffered, as did many other girls who were being schooled. During the Taliban period, only three percent of women were educated. All schools for girls and universities for women were closed. Women are kept at home and denied the chance to get an education. These women grow up not knowing math, safe-sex or ways to keep themselves healthy. Article 2 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.”. Clearly under the government of the taliban this human right was violated.
In Afghanistan everything is based on the muslim culture, and the women in Afghanistan have no power over their career path and whom they marry, also they have to live by the decisions of the men around them. Nana is a great example of this where she is put into an arranged marriage, to marry a boy from Shindand, who was a young seller, at the time she was only 15. Nana said “ A man's accusing finger always finds a women”(Hosseini,7), Nana is accused of forcing herself on Jalil when in a mutual relationship. Nana’s life goes through many obstacles with Jalil, which in the end lead to her suicide. Article 16 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says “Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.”Mariam was forced by her dad and his wives to marry Rasheed, and the attitude that the women have toward these kind of situations is unbelievably obedient. People like Nana, Mariam, and Laila don't have a choice or a say how they want to live their lives. Additionally, womens have no control of their life decisions in Afghanistan.The Taliban encouraged girls under the age of 16 to enter into marriage, the most recent surveys estimate 46 percent of Afghan women are married by age 18, 15 percent of them before age 15. According to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, between 60-80 per cent of all marriages in Afghanistan are forced. Many women or girls that get married under the age of 18 have misscarriage. One in four Afghani women age 20-24 had their first child before age 18.
Khaled Hosseini in A Thousand Splendid Suns only gives a reader a glimpse into the strength of Afghan women. Islam is a religion which defends human rights and holds women as equals as men. The Taliban put to shame the religion of Islam with their despicable practices. It is unfortunate woman in Afghanistan endure harsh living conditions and do not have equal right as men.
Work Cited:
Works Cited
"Escaping Child Marriage in Afghanistan." Escaping Child Marriage in Afghanistan. Web. 25 Jan.2016.
<http://www.unfpa.org/news/escaping-child-marriage-afghanistan>.
"List of Countries by Literacy Rate." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 25 Jan.
2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate>.
"Escaping Child Marriage in Afghanistan." Escaping Child Marriage in Afghanistan. Web. 25 Jan.2016.
<http://www.unfpa.org/news/escaping-child-marriage-afghanistan>.
"List of Countries by Literacy Rate." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 25 Jan.
2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate>.