While legal experts and religious scholars say that women have both a legal and religious right to work, a number of women in Daikundi say that family pressure, household responsibilities, and traditional attitudes are the main obstacles to continuing to work after marriage and motherhood.
Psychologists say that being forced to leave employment can have a negative impact on women’s mental health because work is not only a source of income but also an important part of their personal identity.
Although officials from the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Daikundi say they have provided a safe and appropriate environment for women engaged in business, a number of women in the province say they continue to face challenges in pursuing their occupations.
Shakila, a 25-year-old woman who worked as a teacher in Nili, says she was forced to leave her job after becoming a mother due to opposition from her husband’s family. She explains,
“They told me that now that I had become a mother and had a child, I should give all my attention to raising my child, and that I no longer needed to work or have a job.”
Fatima Ahmadi, another 35-year-old woman, says her husband’s family did not allow her to continue working after she had worked for two years at an organization and gave birth to her third child.
“After the birth of my third child, my husband’s family did not allow me to continue my job at one of the local organizations. I had worked there for nearly two years. They said that I was now responsible for the household and my three children and that I should spend more of my time at home. My husband shared the same view,” she says.
Laila Rahimi, a 25-year-old woman, also says that her husband’s family did not allow her to continue working after her marriage.
“I worked as a midwife at a pharmacy, and I loved my job a lot. But after I got married, my husband’s family said there was no longer any need for me to work outside the home. They believed that a woman’s duty is to take care of the household and stay at home,” she adds.
Meanwhile, experts say that under both Islamic Sharia and the country’s laws, women have the right to work, have financial independence, and own property. Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, a legal expert in Daikundi, says,
“From the perspective of human rights, constitutional law, and international documents, work is a fundamental right of every individual, regardless of gender. Depriving women of employment constitutes a violation of their fundamental human rights. Women’s right to employment and social participation is regulated within the framework of Islamic law, the leadership’s decrees, and the country’s laws in force.”
Hekmatullah Arefi, a religious scholar, says that Islam places no religious restrictions on women’s employment as long as it is carried out within the framework of Islamic principles. He says women have the right to work and to own the income they earn. He says,
“From the perspective of Islam, women’s work and economic participation hold an important place. Not only is there no religious prohibition on women’s employment, but Islam also recognizes women’s financial independence and property rights as important and necessary.”
Ehsan Ali Sadat, a psychologist, says that forcing women out of employment is not merely an economic issue but one that can also have profound consequences for their mental well-being.
“Being forced to leave work can have significant consequences for women’s mental health. Employment is not merely a source of income; it is also an important part of their personal identity and contributes to their sense of usefulness and social participation. When a woman is deprived of work against her will, she may experience feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, hopelessness, and diminished self-confidence. Over time, this can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, social isolation, and reduced life satisfaction,” he explains.
Sayed Rohullah Gawhari, Head of Publications at the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and Hearing Complaints in Daikundi, says that the department, in coordination with the relevant institutions, has provided a safe and appropriate environment for women engaged in business. He says,
“The Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and Hearing Complaints, through awareness programs conducted by its muhtasibs (employees), mosques, and corrective sessions with scholars, community elders, neighborhood representatives, and mosque imams, has emphasized the importance of preserving women’s family responsibilities. It has consistently sought to remind the public that women’s primary responsibilities are raising the next generation and fulfilling their family duties. Whenever a safe and appropriate environment exists for women to work within the framework of Islamic Sharia, the department will fully cooperate in facilitating their employment.”
Although women’s participation in the labor market has declined in recent years due to changing social conditions, factors within many families, including household responsibilities, childcare, and traditional attitudes, have also influenced women’s decisions to continue working or leave their jobs after marriage and becoming mothers. Legal experts and psychologists believe that women’s continued participation in economic activities not only helps improve family livelihoods but also contributes to maintaining their financial independence, increasing their self-confidence, and improving their mental well-being.
Reporter: Shafiqa Mohammadi
