Control Over The Taliban example essay topic

Courage under the Veil The average layman has never thought too much about Afghanistan or its women before 9/11/01. It is very unfortunate that it takes a terrorist act to direct people's attention to the horrible living conditions in another country. Now, anyone can walk into a Barnes and Noble and get bombarded by books published after Sept 11th. The main topic of the books on the table seem to concentrate on how we knew that the attacks were going to happen before they did and what America did not do to avoid them.

To find a book on the living conditions in Afghanistan, you need to go to women's studies or current events. Most people don't realize that Afghans strive to be more connected with democratic societies. "Afghans seek to be linked to democratic-minded and civic institutions in the free world". (Metha 11) Before the rule of the Taliban, women held jobs as doctors, lawyers, professors... etc.

When the Taliban came into power women were stripped of their right to work and even be seen outside of their homes in fashionable clothing. Also, women were not allowed to work outside of their homes. Therefore, schools were closed. Men even got the rule of no beard trimming put onto them by the Taliban. After the Taliban was thrown out of Kabul and out of power, life went back to normal; or did it? After women were put down further than further than that society has ever experienced before, a quick reversal can not happen.

The psychology of the situation does not permit it. Men were brought up psychologically and this in turn pushed women down even more. "By giving men the feeling that their situation is improving relatively, if not absolutely, fundamentalists can appease and win over that half of the population at the expense of women, who are the weaker and more peaceful segment anyway". (Benard 253) The afghan society has been through three distinct periods in the last decade.

Before, during and after the rule of the Taliban. It is incomprehensible to believe that a society can adjust back to what it was without a period of confusion. The reality of the situation in Afghanistan is so much richer than the oversimplified headlines that we see today. There was a time when women had equal rights and they could roam free in the streets without a burkha covering them head to toe. Equal rights were first introduced by King Amano llah Shah in the early 20's. However, society must not have been ready for a change into modernization since he was put into exile in 1928.

But during the leadership of King Mohammad Zahir Shah between 1933-1973, further attempts were put forth to gain equal rights for women. King Mohammad had received most of his education from France and recognized that educating women and letting them be free could help the society in later years. In 1960 he sent women and men all around the world through foreign education programs to receive degrees in various fields. Then, in 1970 Afghanistan had the highest percentage of youth returning to their home county to practice in their fields of education. This was a great time of prosperity and growth for the country. People were excited to work and go to school.

They could finally see the rewards of an educated mind. During the late 70's countless streets were filled with girls skipping to school with matching black uniforms and white head scarves blowing in the wind. This rapid evolution of society was due to King Mohammad and his view of prosperity and democracy. (Benard 54) In 1977 the numbers began to grow positively for women. At that time 15% of the women held positions in the highest legislative body, 70% were school teachers, 50% were government workers and 40% were doctors in Kabul.

(Mehta 47) These numbers show tremendous growth in Afghan women and the people who see these might have a response of something like "Good for them, there are finally catching up with the rest of us". However, Afghanistan had women in higher educated fields than we did at an earlier date in time. Kabul was a desirable place to have a career and live. Women came to Kabul with degrees from Europe, Turkey and even the United States. In 1965 women studied in coed engineering classes at Kabul University. It wasn't until 1970 that there was a female student attending Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

(Mehta 51) Besides the education level of the women in Afghan, they were also on the cutting edge of fashion. Women looking to move to Kabul from the United States were greeted by a photo book from the U.S. State Department. The photos were of the royal family wearing the latest fashionable clothing at that time. The women would be dressed in raincoats, sunglasses, gloves and even the stylish Hermes headscarves. (Mehta 42) They could very well blend into our culture if not be even more stylish. Our western views of people in the Middle East are far from what really is going on in terms of socioeconomic wants, fashion sense and even education levels.

Our economic status makes it very easy to ignore what is really going on in other countries whether it is good or bad. Even though the Soviet invasion was an upsetting time, Women still prospered in all areas. Their veils were almost all off through out the country, and jobs were still opening up at a rapid pace. After the soviets were defeated in 1992 a huge area of power was left empty. This was first filled by warlords then the primitive religionists took control. The Taliban.

The everlasting need for power and belonging does not escape any man one this earth. Osama Bin Ladin knew this and used it to his advantage in gaining control over the Taliban. (Metha 52) To an educated western mind it may seem impossible to control over a huge group of people such as the Taliban after we all saw what happened in World War II. (Benard 253) The Taliban would lower women's role in society to a level that has never taken place before. This has a reciprocal relationship on the men's side in that they would develop a false sense of power. Their sense of power comes from a comparison that is made by man in relation to women.

So, now that the Taliban has control over a small group of uneducated men. I also should mention the obvious things about these types of men. They live in tribes located far from Kabul or any major city. Therefore, they are uneducated and have a sever lack of power and belonging.

So, how do they direct their actions in an area of need? It's actually very simple. By not letting women outside of their homes unless they are covered with a burkha, this creates a level of sexual frustration among men. We all have hormones and impulses; when they are repressed a leader can direct our efforts in various areas. Young fundamentalists live in a rigid, completely masculine world. But, like everyone else, they have impulses and hormones.

When these are repressed, it creates a level of tension and anger that can be channeled into whatever direction their leader chooses. (Benard 254) In September of 1996 the Taliban took control over Kabul and enforced strict Laws prohibiting men and women from doing simple acts such as flying a kite and listening to music. These laws were enforced with sever punishment. One woman was inside a corner store and lifted up her burkha to get relief from the heat. The clerk told her that she should put it down because there was a member of the Taliban outside.

But it was too late; she was dragged out into the street and beat in front of the public. The following are selected Taliban laws. (Bernard 67) o Women should not step outside their residences, if they do, they should not wear fashionable clothes and cosmetics. If they disobey this they shall not go to heaven. o Women should act as teachers for their families, and the men are responsible for providing food, clothing and a roof. o Women are not permitted to work outside the home or go to school. o No music is allowed, drivers and shopkeepers with cassettes will be imprisoned, no drum playing. o No laughing in public. o No beard shaving or cutting, punished by imprisonment until it gets bushy. o No flying kites. o No British or American hair styles. o No music or dancing allowed at wedding parties. (Logan 34) Every woman that lived to experience the Taliban has a story that will throw your hair back and rip your heart in half. The story of Zargoona is typical to most of the situations that took place during the period of the Taliban.

Harriet Logan, a journalist from the London Sunday Times Magazine conducted a two part interview with her starting in 1997 and ending in 2001. The first interview took place in a freezing cold room with no heat, nor glass on the windows. They had to bundle up in blankets to try and keep warm. Zargoona cried during the whole interview. Life was great before The Taliban came into town. She taught physics at a polytechnic school.

The price of living was reasonable, and the salary was good. The Taliban came at night, so she woke to see them in the streets. At first she felt safe as if they were there to provide protection. Later that day she could not believe what she heard about women not being allowed to have jobs anymore.

She began to cry as she went with her youngest son and buy a burkha. She didn't even know how to wear it since she never had before. She didn't think that they were all that serious, so she still wrote exams for her students. The Taliban found out that she was bringing them to their homes and said, "If you come back here again, we " ll cut your legs off so you can't walk".

(Logan 58) Life really got terrible when she was not receiving a salary anymore. She had a son to support with no money for food. So, she sold all her belongings and clothes to have money for food. However, that didn't last long at all. Unfortunately her husband was killed by a rocket in the streets, so she was really on her own.

After years of trying to live on odd ends of food and hopping around between friends homes, she became suicidal. The only thing that kept her from not killing herself was her son. He deserved an education and a mother to be their for him. She got so low he couldn't even find it useful to be around other people anymore. I don't even go to wedding parties because I can't stand my life.

I have no feeling about the future; I just want the Taliban to leave. They are not human. They have no hearts, no feelings. They are jealous and illiterate and know nothing. They are like wild animals. (Logan 59) The journalist had a very difficult time trying to find her for a second interview since she moved around so many times in the past four years.

When she found her, she was in worse living conditions than when this all began. She was living on the ground floor of a run-down apartment. As soon as she opened the door Zargoona broke down in tears and could not stop shaking. Her hands were swollen blue and she had lost a tremendous amount of weight. She is now dying of cancer and something is wrong with her blood.

She found lumps in her breast and neck and went to get treatment in Pakistan. However, she didn't have any money so she had to go back home. She began to teach three students in her house even though it was illegal. It all caught up to her one day when she was expecting her students. But, instead the Taliban came knocking at her door. Three came in and two stood outside.

They were terrifying. "Why are you teaching?" they yelled. I said that I only taught the Holy Koran and that they could check this with my students. But they shouted that it was forbidden to teach girls, and they started to beat me with a cable until my leg bled.

They swore that if I ever taught again, they would arrest and execute me. (Logan 60) When the U.S. bombings started she could care less since the whole town was in ruins and her health was terrible. She had nothing to live for anymore. She new she would die in a few years anyways, so why care about a new government.

If her son wasn't there she would have killed herself by now. I have no family to help me-no mother, no father, no brother, and no sisters. There is only my aunt and she is so poor she can hardly support herself. I am giving you this (a hair band (to the interviewer) ) as a gift because Know I know I will die. There is nothing else to say. Despite all of the financial and emotional upsets that the Taliban brought upon Afghanistan, there was still an organization that provided some relief to women.

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan or RAWA. (Metha 74) WORLDWIDE, WOMEN ARE FIGHTING to achieve the sacred and trumpeted slogan of "Women's rights". Whether black or white, whether in the "rich free world" or in Asia's, Africa's or Latin America's poverty-blighted countries, weather heterosexual or Lesbian, the world's women are individually and collectively part of a common struggle for respect; first as human beings, but also as mothers, sisters, wives, friends and colleagues. RAWA is an organization that provides women the opportunity to learn academics, personal freedom and assist in the legislative process of women's roles in Afghanistan. Some women that come to RAWA don't even know what they need and what the organization can offer them. Women pour into this place as a last resort.

However, there is now building that hosts this organization. It's underground. There are classes for academics all over the country, but they are in peoples homes. Because of RAWA, many women have been able to learn to read and write.

With this addition of knowledge they have became more vocal in their demonstrations for women's rights. Despite differences in culture all women have the same basic needs that must be fulfilled. Power, freedom, survival, fun and love & belonging must be filled in some way. Because of the different societies around the world, we still find ways to fill them. Afghan women were denied their need for power by their own society. When the taliban came into control, their power was totally stripped from their lifestyle.

Therefore, women found creative ways to fulfill that need. Many people around the world don't realize that we all have basic needs and they are the same, even if we go about filing them differently. When people in power over a country don't realize this they will never progress. My first thought of afghan women were of submissive people that didn't even want an education. That is now a myth that I put to rest.

Afghan women hold very respectable positions such as teachers, doctors and lawyers. The people of Afghanistan strive to be a democratic society. They have proven that through there government administering grants to youth for studies abroad. Then, they come back and contribute their new found knowledge with their country. It will be along time before Afghan women and their country will be anywhere near their goals.

But, they are making progress in the right direction.