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For Women, The Times They Are a Changin
By Tarie Khoraam
The living conditions for women in Afghanistan have changed since the fall of the
Taliban and in the ongoing presence of westerners (particularly Americans) since then.
Education is now available for females, a dream that was lost until the early 90s.
Additionally, Afghani women are being trained as beauticians, resulting in them being
able to establish their own businesses. Progress, that stands as testament to the
fact that women can achieve their goals if they are allowed to develop a craft and
to excel academically without hindrance, like the sort which has plagued Afghanistan
for centuries.
Interestingly, the building of schools has reached north to the boarder of Pakistan,
where America's own Greg Mortensen has built some fifty schools on his own initiative,
and with charitable aid. Such projects have changed the lives of scores of young girls
in the region who were all schooless. The lesson here is that knowledge is indeed
power, great power. Even in a corner of the world as oppressed and behind-the-times
as Afghanistan was (perhaps a century or more); all it takes is one educated generation
to see the immediate and profound impact. Given the tools and opportunities, the people
of Afghanistan can, must, have and will participate as equal partners in the rebuilding
of their troubled country.
Women all across the western hemisphere have shown that they're worth more than staying
home and rearing children, of course. They've attained the highest levels of education
and in some countries, like Jamaica, the enrollment of women has outnumbered that
of males. It is not unusual for western women to climb the academic, social, and economic
ladders while being a parent, and in some cases even as single parents. Men must be
credited for the accomplishment of women often times, since it is now normal for men
in America to stay home when necessary for the rearing of the children while the ladies
work and at times attend school.
The retrograde treatment of women as inferior beings will not persist in these fast-changing
times. The democratic movements running rampant in the Middle East, and northern Africa
in 2011 involves both sexes. The opportunities now available to women, which once
they were denied, should be vigorously fought-for by all civilized people. The unrest
in Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, Bahrain, and other countries, is a clear indication that
the blessings of freedom are sought by all oppressed people at all times; and in the
case of women, they appear to have a real chance for success in a way that has not
been seen in recent memory.
American women have made strides by outnumbering men in the workforce, and at the
polls in general elections. And they're slowly but surely finding equal opportunities
to hold key positions in the governing bodies of the United States There are countries
such as Jamaica, Chile, Liberia, and most recently Trinidad, that are blessed to have
had women serve as heads of state. Throughout, history we have seen how much women
have been penalized and victimized; yet they have gained the victory in so many ways.
However, there are hurdles yet to overcome as we look throughout the global village.
The practice of female genital mutilation is still deep seeded in some cultures. This
act is carried out against the will of the young girls, and the surgery is often unprofessional,
resulting in severe and permanent health conditions. The procedure is sometimes performed
without any form of anesthesia; the clitoris is cut away with a sharp stone or razor.
This practice is widespread and accepted in many cultures, despite the obvious harm
to the victims. No one should have access to a young girl's private body, other than
whom she allows when she is of-age. The freedom to choose what to do with one's body,
and to choose one's partners is the entitlement of all women, and for that matter,
men.
The issue of domestic abuse and violence must be tackled like a cancer in the international
community. However, the scourge of violence against women, unequal pay, and all forms
of discrimination must be tackled not just by the women, but by collective means including:
government at all levels, churches, mosques, and non-governmental organizations, in
order for our women to forge ahead on the road of progress in the 21st Century.
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