Personal Statement For Afghanistan

Personal Statement for Graduate School

I was born and grow up in the Afghanistan and finished my high school in the capital city, “Kabul”. Luckily, I was able to study in a high school, which was working for betterment of the Afghanistan educational system and youth empowerment. Since most of the schools in Afghanistan focus on reading and writing and provide basic education, this school focus was more on improving critical thinking and encouraging women to have an active role in the Afghan society. Growing as a girl in the patriarchal society of Afghanistan, is the hardest experience, a girl can have. The women of Afghanistan are not getting their basic human rights. Women are considered the property of men. Paradoxically, women are even not

Unfortunately, since most of the women in Afghanistan are uneducated, they are not aware of their basic rights. They are thought that their male partner or the male members of the family have the only right to make decisions on behalf of them, like marriage. Since the fall of the Taliban regime, the status of women improved a lot ,but yet it’s only in the capital city Kabul. Yet, there is a huge gender inequality; women participation in political, economical and social parts is discouraged. This gender inequality of the Afghan society motivated me to work for the women rights and education. Since when I was in school, I was not allowed to participate in many activities, because of my gender. Once when I was in 12th grade, in the exam periods, only the boys were allowed to stay in school and study. Even though most of us were interested and requested the principle to stay and study during nights, but it was rejected only because of our gender. I remember on that time, it made me cry and feel bad for myself and other colleagues. On that time I

But, because of the weak law enforcement and cultural norms, even these rights are not given according to the laws and constitution of Afghanistan (The Week). In Afghanistan, approximately 55% of the population is women, but According to the article 83 of the constitution of Afghanistan, “25 % female can occupy representation in parliament"(Mussarat and Ibrahim). Even though many changes happened in women life, there are many women participating in internal and international organizations, but the percentage is not high and they have not access to the same level of opportunities as men. Although, since 2001 women participation in the labor forces raised by 19%, but only 64% of people are agree that women should be allowed to work outside of the home. Women are discriminated in the workplaces. They still face many problems such as harassment, discrimination in their work places because of their gender, lack of experience, job skill and level of education (UN Women Afghanistan). According to Sonali Kolhatkart, a Journalist and activist from India in Afghanistan, after the war US feminist started raising awareness about "victims of inhumane gender apartheid." And today world focus more on women in Afghanistan after the United States