KABUL (SW) – Findings from Salam Watandar’s survey of 530 women across six provinces of Afghanistan show that 61.1% of these women and girls are deprived of the right to choose in various aspects of their lives, and 38.9% have had this right by their families.
This survey was conducted in Kabul, Takhar, Bamyan, Faryab, Logar, and Kunduz provinces, with Kabul having the highest number of participants at 84%, and Faryab the lowest at 1.3%.
The participants in this survey were in various age groups, with the largest age group being women aged 20 to 25, comprising 49.2% of the total surveyed women.
This survey examined women’s right to choose within the framework of their homes and families, including their role in spouse selection, educational decisions, family decisions, daily activities, clothing, and living place.
56.2% of the surveyed women expressed concerns about the right to choose their spouses, 56.9% about daily choices in their homes, 39.9% about their education process, 41.1% about their clothing, 47.8% about their daily activities, 63.1% about family decisions, 47.8% about the right to choose the place they live in, and 61.2% also mentioned their entrrtainment, stating that mostly these rights are taken away from them.
Khadija, a resident of Kabul city, says: “I really liked journalism and communications, but due to the problems in society and the family, I was not allowed to study journalism because it is said that in these conditions a woman cannot work in the media, and I was forced to study against my interest.”
Shirin, a resident of Takhar province, also says: “It has been six years since my marriage. When they married me, none [of my family members] asked me. I wanted to study and marry a person of my choice. I urge fathers to consult their daughters at the time of marriage so that their lives will be better.”
Sociologists and psychologists consider the right to choose as a women’s human rights and say that depriving women of the right to choose would have negative consequences for the entire society.
Ahmad Rashid Sediqi, a sociologist says: “As much as men have the right to choose, women should also have it. If women do not have a choice in life matters, it will have negative consequences; for example, if a woman does not choose the right life partner, it will lead to divorce, which is the worst phenomenon. If we do not give them rights, it means imposing something on them.”
Nezami Aziz, a psychologist, says: “When a woman does not have the right to choose, she feels weak and helpless, thinking that she does not have the right, and someone else makes decisions for her. Second, she loses her place in the family and society, and always repeats the feeling of weakness.”
According to women’s rights activists, women as human beings in society have the right to choose, and their choices must be respected.
Yalda Azizi, a women’s rights activist, says: “A woman is not created to not have the right to demand or not have her desires fulfilled. Every woman has desires from every aspect; for example, in her husband’s house, the right to livelihood, the right to life, and freedom should be provided by her husband’s family. In addition, a girl has the right to education, work, and profession, and all the desires of women Afghan women speak out on limited right to choose, over 60% deprived
The findings of the Salam Watandar survey from the analysis of the conversations with 530 girls and women across six provinces of Afghanistan show that 61.1% of them participating in the survey are deprived of the right to choose in various aspects of their lives, and 38.9% mostly have had this right by their families.
This survey was conducted in Kabul, Takhar, Bamyan, Faryab, Logar, and Kunduz provinces, with Kabul having the highest number of participants at 84%, and Faryab the lowest at 1.3%.
The participants in this survey were in various age groups, with the largest age group being women aged 20 to 25, comprising 49.2% of the total surveyed women.
This survey examined women’s right to choose within the framework of their homes and families, including their role in spouse selection, educational decisions, family decisions, daily entertainment and activities, clothing, and living place.
56.2% of the surveyed women expressed concerns about the right to choose their spouses, 56.9% about daily choices in their homes, 39.9% about their education process, 41.1% about their clothing, 47.8% about their daily activities, 63.1% about family decisions, 47.8% about the right to choose the place they live in, and 61.2% also mentioned their entrtainment, stating that mostly these rights are taken away from them.
Khadija, a resident of Kabul city, says: “I really liked journalism and communications, but due to the problems in society and the family, I was not allowed to study journalism because it is said that in these conditions a woman cannot work in the media, and I was forced to study against my interest.”
Shirin, a resident of Takhar province, also says: “It has been six years since my marriage. When they married me, none [of my family members] asked me. I wanted to study and marry a person of my choice. I urge fathers to consult their daughters at the time of marriage so that their lives will be better.”
Sociologists and psychologists consider the right to choose as a women’s human rights and say that depriving women of the right to choose would have negative consequences for the entire society.
Ahmad Rashid Sediqi, a sociologist says: “As much as men have the right to choose, women should also have it. If women do not have a choice in life matters, it will have negative consequences; for example, if a woman does not choose the right life partner, it will lead to divorce, which is the worst phenomenon. If we do not give them rights, it means imposing something on them.”
Nezami Aziz, a psychologist, says: “When a woman does not have the right to choose, she feels weak and helpless, thinking that she does not have the right, and someone else makes decisions for her. Second, she loses her place in the family and society, and always repeats the feeling of weakness.”
According to women’s rights activists, women as human beings in society have the right to choose, and their choices must be respected.
Yalda Azizi, a women’s rights activist, says: “A woman is not created to not have the right to demand or not have her desires fulfilled. Every woman has desires from every aspect; for example, in her husband’s house, the right to livelihood, the right to life, and freedom should be provided by her husband’s family. In addition, a girl has the right to education, work, and profession, and all the desires of women should be fulfilled.”
However, Abdul Ghafar Farooq, spokesperson for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (MoPVPV), said in a text message to Salam Watandar: “As long as there is no religious barrier, women have the right to choose, and in case of problems, the MoPVPV will provide necessary recommendations to the people.”
It is worth mentioning that in most cases, women in Afghanistan do not have the right to choose in their lives, and after the changes in the country’s regime, restrictions have been imposed on them in more than 66 cases.
