Salam Watandar’s interviews with 20 women who had independent incomes before becoming unemployed show that, besides covering their personal needs, they also contributed to their families’ expenses. They say unemployment has now pushed all of them toward a shared fate: dependence — a situation the interviewed women describe as difficult and worrying.
They had worked in sectors such as teaching, midwifery, law (lawyers), non-governmental agencies, tailoring, online marketing, secretarial work, and social services.
6 of the interviewed women consider social challenges as the reason for their unemployment.
Benazir Barakzai, a resident of Kushk-e-Kohna district in Herat province who previously worked as a trainer at an office, says her workplace was not closed, but women are no longer being hired there. She used to have a monthly salary; now she depends on her husband’s small income. This dependence has simultaneously increased her psychological pressure and made her economic difficulties even more severe. She adds,
“I used to earn a monthly salary of around 30,000 Afghanis. Right now, I am unemployed because our workplace was closed, and many offices no longer hire women and only accept men. Currently, my husband provides for our family’s needs, and it is very difficult. Meeting my personal needs has become very challenging because his income is very low. We can only manage the household’s most urgent problems.”
8 of the interviewees said their workplaces shut down due to the non-hiring of women, lack of projects, and economic problems. They say that with the closure of these workplaces, they lost not only their income but also their job identity.
Out of the total interviewees, 6 others said that marriage or family opposition were the reasons for their unemployment.
Zahra, a 34-year-old who previously worked at a school in Kabul, says she was unable to continue her job after marriage, and the lack of income has now left her financially dependent even for purchasing basic needs. She says,
“The main reason I became unemployed was marriage and the family responsibilities that followed, especially after the birth of my child. After becoming unemployment, my financial situation changed significantly. I used to have my own income and could freely decide on my needs and wishes, but afterward I became completely dependent. I could no longer save money or make independent purchases, and this change was very noticeable and difficult for me.”
Among the women interviewed for this report, 8 are financially dependent on their husbands, 8 on their parents, and 4 on their brothers.
Laila, a 23-year-old resident of Faryab who previously worked as a secretary at an educational center, says her father now covers her basic needs.
“I used to earn a monthly salary of around 8,000 Afghanis and covered most of my personal expenses myself, and sometimes I even helped my family. But after becoming unemployed, my financial situation changed completely. Now I have to turn to my family even for the smallest expenses. This dependence is very difficult for me. Sometimes I even feel uncomfortable asking for personal items and try to ask less,” she says.
Shogoofa, a 24-year-old resident of Maimana city in Faryab who previously worked in a tailoring workshop, says that after becoming unemployed, her brother has taken responsibility for meeting her needs. Inability to meet her needs as she once did has intensified her feelings of worthlessness. She explains,
“After becoming unemployed, my life changed significantly. Right now, my brother covers my expenses. This dependence is not easy for me because I used to manage my own expenses, but now I have to rely on others for every need. Sometimes I face difficulties even meeting my personal needs. Psychologically, this situation has been very hard for me. Losing financial independence has reduced my self-confidence and made me feel that I am no longer as active or useful as before.”
Similarly, Sohaila, a 31-year-old resident of Ab Kamari district in Badghis who previously worked in an international institution, says that after becoming unemployed, her husband now covers her daily living expenses. She says the experience of economic dependence has been difficult for her, and she still faces limitations in meeting even her most basic needs.
“After I became unemployed, our financial situation changed greatly, and now our financial needs are covered by my husband. This economic dependence is very difficult for me, and I can no longer meet my needs the way I could when I had my own income and independence,” she adds.
The unemployed women say that economic dependence on men has exposed them to hopelessness, psychological pressure, and a reduced ability to meet their daily needs. At the same time, they say it has distanced them from the dreams and goals they once had for the future.
Parwin Maruf, a 38-year-old resident of Jabal Saraj district in Parwan who previously taught at an institute, says unemployment has distanced her from her goals and left her hopeless.
“This situation has greatly affected my personal life, daily life, and progress. For a working woman to suddenly become unemployed and confined to the home is itself such an incurable disease. To lose everything at once, be deprived of everything, face economic hardship, and have no progress in life has destroyed all my goals. I have become so hopeless that I no longer think about changing my future because I have lost hope,” she says.
Meanwhile, women’s rights activists, economic analysts, and psychologists warn that excluding women from the labor market has not only led to unemployment and economic dependence, but has also had wider effects on women’s social status, the economy, and mental health.
They believe that reducing women’s participation in work and social life has deprived society of part of its human and productive capacity and left women facing psychological pressure, hopelessness, and a sense of purposelessness.
Muzhda Azizi, a women’s rights activist, says, “The decline in women’s participation in the workplace and society is not merely the restriction of one part of society. When women are deprived of participation, their human and legal status weakens, and society loses half of its intellectual and human capacity.”
On the other hand, Hanif Farzan, an economic analyst, emphasizes the importance of women’s participation in the economy and says the absence and reduced activity of women weakens the country’s economic sector. He explains,
“Women’s participation in the labor market is considered one of the drivers of economic growth because women possess significant productive capacity. If women do not participate in the labor market, it leads to a reduction in gross domestic product at the national level. The greater women’s participation in the economy, the more stable and competitive the economy becomes. The lower their participation, the more the economy becomes unstable and fragile within families, society, and the country as a whole.”
Zuhal Amirzada, a psychologist, recommends that unemployed women learn new skills and maintain social relationships, saying these can strengthen feelings of usefulness during unemployment.
“Being with family or friends can help reduce psychological pressure and also play an important role in managing emotions such as sadness, anger, and hopelessness. Since life is not limited to one’s job role, this mindset can help reduce feelings of purposelessness while giving people a sense of control. During this period, women can focus on learning new skills. These measures can help them cope with the psychological pressure of unemployment and give them a sense of usefulness,” she says.
However, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs says women can still work in certain sectors. Samiullah Ibrahimi, spokesperson for the ministry, says in an interview with Salam Watandar,
“After the sovereignty of the Islamic Emirate, efforts have been made to create safe environments for women in workplaces. Fortunately, women are currently working in various sectors such as education, healthcare, social activities, and security-related sectors where their participation is needed, and practically women are working in these sectors. The Islamic Emirate has provided them with safe and healthy working environments.”
A report by UN Women, published in June 2025, shows that women’s participation in the labor market has significantly declined, while their economic dependence has increased.
Report: Momina Zarif
