Women’s Rights in Post-U.S. Afghanistan: Assessing the Impact of the Taliban's Return on Gender Equality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38154/CJAS.2025.87Keywords:
Women Rights, Afghanistan, Taliban Regime, PatriarchyAbstract
This research explores the regression of women's rights and gender equality in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Grounded in feminist and postcolonial theory, this research examines Taliban-imposed restrictions on education, employment, healthcare access, and women's socio-political participation. Drawing from qualitative interviews with Afghan women in diaspora and analysis of international and local reports, the study highlights the ideological underpinnings of Taliban policies, the psychological and economic toll on women, and the emergence of resistance through grassroots and digital activism. It also compares the current Taliban regime with its earlier rule (1996–2001) to assess continuity and transformation in gender policies. The paper argues for localized, culturally grounded advocacy strategies and stronger international support to counter gender apartheid in Afghanistan.References
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ramez Shuja
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