Editor’s note: The Afghan Women’s Writing Project recently conducted interviews with working women in Kabul about how women’s roles are changing in society. Here are some of the stories they told AWWP.
Selling Perfume in the Kabul Bazaar
Fatima, age 22, works in an HB Perfumes store in Kabul province in order to earn her expenses for her postgraduate education. Fatima is not the first woman to enter this kind of business, but the Afghan community still does not readily accept women working in shops and markets. She must fight against the stereotypes to demonstrate her talents as a woman.
During a recent sunny day, I walked to the Bazaar in Kabul to meet with several different women who are working in shops as customer service providers. I asked them to tell me why they want to work under these conditions in Afghanistan.
This is what Fatima told me. “I work because I am a human and I have the right to work. Our people do not like women to do this kind of work. They just want females to be teachers at a girls’ school. They do not think that we need to have women working everywhere in order to provide more comfortable shopping for other women. I work and I study to prove my existence as a woman and a human,” she said.
Fatima’s goal is also to gain experience in business. “I work in this store to learn more about business because in the future, if Allah wanted, I want to develop my own business and start a big market run by women, especially for women.”
I interviewed other women doing different types of work. But women in sales are a new phenomenon in Afghanistan. We are so happy to see that the women’s movement is growing in every way in our country.
Teaching Kindergarten to Support Her Advanced Degree
Next I interviewed Maryam, who is a kindergarten teacher and a student in the Faculty of Law at a private university. She teaches to pay for her own education expenses. She does not have any other sources of financial support.
“I am a part of the young generation in society and I am educating myself to help myself and my own people due to real problems in our economy,” she said. “Even when we do not have enough to eat, I still pay for my education. I work for that goal.”
“I am a teacher because I want to help the children of my country. A woman can only be successful in society if she starts by being wise and educated,” she said.
“Even if I am poor girl and I do not have any brothers or a strong father to support me, I still have the ability to work and earn a salary of $100 per month to pay for my education. In that way, I prove myself as a woman in our community.”
Maryam does not earn enough money to buy new clothes and other things for herself. She wears her very old clothing and shoes, but she does not care. She believes that by continuing her education, one day she can become an important person in society.
Journalist, Mother, and Wife
Nahed is a strong woman who never gives up. She is raising and supporting her children alone by working as a journalist and writer.
She has four children. Her husband left her with the children to remarry. He did not offer money to pay the expenses for his children. He simply left. But she is a writer and a good poet who works at different organizations and she is able to provide her family with food, a place to live, and their education.
“I want my children to be educated, not to be a shame in society. They should be a useful person for their country and community. It is my duty as a mother to work for my children. If they get sick I should bring them to a doctor. I should take care with their education,” she said.
“But a woman who works in society faces a lot of problems,” she said.
“I think the role of a woman in society is greater than a man’s,” said Nahed. She explained that a woman first must be a good role model for her children, along with being affectionate and sympathetic and a good and faithful wife to her husband.
“A mother in society is a good role model when she does her job cheerfully at home. Then her well trained children can enter society and become successful women in society as well. A woman can be successful if she is good, hard working, and if her children are well trained and dedicated to the community, according to the laws and regulations of our society and community.”
Interviews by Manizha; editing by Seeta; photo by ISAF/US.
So wonderful to read about positive steps forward for women’s rights in Afghanistan. I hope other women will be encouraged to follow the lead of these three brave women and work if that is their dream — or if works is the way to make their dream a reality. Thank you, Manizha, for your excellent interviewing and reporting — and to Seeta for the edit. All best wishes, Nancy
These women are so inspiring. I was particularly moved by Fatima’s statement, “I work and I study to prove my existence as a woman and a human.”
Maryam is wise to put away money for her education, even when there is little for food on the table. She is taking the “long view” and knows that if she eats all of her earnings, she will never better her situation.
And Nahed’s dedication to her children echoes that of women the world over. So much of the work we do is uncompensated. We do it from love and necessity, because if we don’t, who will?
Nice reporting, Seeta.
Very informative, Seeta.
I used this source for a project and I believe that this has aided it, and made it far better than it was, originally.
Asalaam Seeta,
Thank you for sharing a conducted interview with two women working in Kabul about how women’s roles are changing society. It is very pleasing to hear the uprising in women entering the business industry and the efforts to fight against the stereotypes to demonstrate the importance of women. I have always been a stronger advocator that everyone should have the same rights and quality of lifestyle regardless of race, religion, and gender. In your interview with Fatima, she reiterates the point that “I work because I am a human and I have the right to work” which represents the motive to change the past perspectives on the purpose of Women. Women should have the opportunity to pursue their interests and achieve goals, in the case Fatima is striving to gain experience in business by working in an HB Perfumes store in Kabul in order to one day start a big market run by sole women. In your next interview with a women kindergarten teacher and student Maryam, she understands being part of the younger generation and has strong intentions to educate Afghan people in efforts to solve problems in our economy. As being a strong believer that you can achieve anything if you try your best, Maryam focuses her goal on paying education even if it means it sacrifices her source of food. Furthermore, I have great respect for the fact that Maryam is offering her public appearance through the lack of money to purchase clothes to continue her education and “become an important person in society”. In your next interview with Nahed, a journalist and a mother who strives to provide her family with “food, a place to live, and their education” is a great mindset to develop successful people. It is a very positive moment of realization for many people in the world to hear “I think the role of women in society is greater than a man’s” as it opposes the common stereotypes of many people. It is a great step in the journey to achieve equality regardless of gender and race. In a parental mindset, it is admiring and pleasing to hear Nahed say “her children are well trained and dedicated to the community” as it represents her belief in the next generation making a difference in society. Nonetheless, the various interviews are very inspiring for many other women to have an importance in society and to eliminate inequalities and common stereotypes.
Dear Manizha and Seeta,
Thank you for writing this essay. I was excited to learn that women in Afghanistan are taking the initiative to gain power, and your stories brought their struggles to life for me. I was impressed by the women working to pay for their education and the education of their children. Still, I think it is unfair that there is no financial funding for women’s education and that their parents cannot or will not offer them financial support, either. I am inspired by their goals, and I would like to be able to help women like Fatima start a business for women, so the women can feel comfortable and safe while shopping. I would like to know what happened to Maryam, who wanted to be an important person in society. Her goals are a sign of growth and evolution in Afghan society, and I hope she is making a difference today. I was most intrigued by Nahed’s devotion to help support her family because, without child support, she is still trying to raise children to improve her society. I applaud you for showing how hard work, including yours, can lead to change in Afghanistan and the world.