Women & gender studies article

Women & gender studies article

The US cannot deliver gender issues in Afghanistan whatsoever! The US secretary of state has tried to prioritize the rights of women in his foreign policy but establishing the rights of women in Afghanistan is beyond their limit. It is about time they stop making promises they cannot fulfill. The twelve-year history of Afghanistan has confirmed that the US military and diplomacy cannot bring to change the traditions of the Afghans concerning women. The only option may be to give their women passports to go to America and anything contrary to that including the presence of US troops is a false promise.

It is evident that since the Taliban government was overthrown, the life of many women in Afghanistan has changed tremendously even though the improvement may be a delusion. A reporter of Reuters said that apparently, President Hamid Karzai is still indecisive on women’s rights and that the local government has been unsuccessful in adopting the new lifestyle to accept gender equality. The conservative Afghan traditionalists are still a major influence on the ethnicity and customs that rule property rights, marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody. Regardless of women’s rights being well defined in the constitutional, the government and parliament still encourages discrimination against women.

According to the survey done by women rights advocates, forced marriage is still common in Afghanistan. Wife battering and other types of gender-based violence on women are still going on. Worst of all women and girls are usually stoned, stabbed and stoned to death when caught running away from their tormentors. Since Afghanistan’s resistance to change is deeply rooted, the only way to change is long-term custom is by the help of the international community. But, according to Professor Robert W. Rauchhaus, third parties that are willing to protect the minority will need to focus on the group at risk (Afghan women) and seek to punish those who instill violent on them (Afghan traditionalist).

America cannot be able to intervene and punish parties resistant to change in Afghanistan. Trying to force their will onto Afghanistan is against the western values of self-determination and democracy. There is a clash between the liberal tolerance of varied cultures and the intention of spreading liberty. Any form of punishment on this country may lead to rebellion. During the reign of King Zahir Sha, he ensured that Afghans dressed in western style and changed their weekly Holiday from Friday to Thursday. He ended the discrimination of women and got rid of the veil.

The most controversial issue in Afghanistan is the policies governing the rights of women, marriage which are rooted their social values, religion and culture. It is unfortunate that women in Afghanistan are worried in case of a change in politics like the Taliban coming back to power. This is because; their progress could suffer a setback. It is right for Kerry to speak against violence but they should not force their liberation into Afghanistan’s illiberal society. The US can continue to support the independent media and other local institutions in Afghanistan even after removing their soldiers. This will acknowledge that gender relations are rooted in morals and traditions that are legally accepted. This will only come by developing institutions and norms that are acceptable in afghan culture otherwise, change of women rights may not be successful. Truly, The United States can only offer support but cannot deliver women’s rights in Afghanistan.

In my opinion, the international community should step in and deliver the Afghan women from oppression. The US cannot be able to instill change in Afghanistan since the presence of their troops in the country is a clear sign of war. The culture and societal norms of the US are totally different and foreign to the Afghanistan’s. The situation and the mistreatment of Muslim women is deeply rooted in the Islamic Sacred books like the Holy Quran and Hadith which are insisted on endlessly by Islamic leaders. For that matter, I believe if the International community will works hand in hand with the Muslim religion things may be better for the Afghan women.

It is better for everyone to understand that the results of violence on a victim’s health are far-reaching and distressing. Women who are battered may suffer from a range of medical problems, from depression to chronic pain; they may also be at an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unwanted pregnancies if they are sexually abused. Victims of domestic violence are more likely to commit suicide. However, women do not experience domestic violence in similar ways. Women may be more or less vulnerable to particular kinds of abuse, and may experience difficulty in accessing legal remedies or obtaining protection from the abuse because of their ethnicity or economic status as in the case of Afghanistan.

Culture may also affect how and where women seek assistance, as well as how they experience and respond to assistance. Involvement and advocacy efforts must realize and adjust to these differences. Therefore, I suggest that both men and women should be encouraged to study gender and women study. This study will enable them to think critically and understand the women’s various contributions to the society. Eventually, this will lead to the realization the equality of men and women in all aspects of life. By this, we will have the freedom and mutual understanding of realizing that we are all equal in the social sphere.

Works Cited

Innocent, Malou. “Why US Can’t Deliver Women’s Rights to Afghanistan.” (2013).