This article illustrated the risk in which many Afghan women are at if they desire prominent positions in the nation's workforce. Muzhgen Masoomi was a strong asset to a a United Nations funded Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme since she spoke English and held a degree in Accounting. However, due to an attack by a former policeman leaving her with 14 stabs, a severe limp, and an uncontrollable bladder (due to a stab in the spine) Masoomi is unable to work and may never be able to work again if she doesn't not seek surgery abroad soon. The NATO-led war started in Afghanistan early eleven years ago was committed to bettering the rights of women and has had some progress since "Afghan women have won back basic rights to education, voting, and employment since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001..." Nevertheless, since troops are expected to be pulled out of the country by 2014 expanding this progress in the future may not be possible. This article argues that women need higher levels of security and protection in order to prosper. But the amount and level of security needed to prevent such violence and hate crimes is rather unfeasible. For instance, Maria Bashir, the chief prosecutor for Herat providence bordering Iran, has eight bodyguards to escort her to work daily and six bodyguards living in her home for protection and security. Even if this level of security was feasible, authorities have reportedly "ignored repeated rquests for protection." The level of inequality and struggle for successful women's empowerment is apparent and will continue if action is not taken in the near future.
Afghanistan's ultra-conservative culture will contine to disable women's empowerment and progress if men will continue to be seen as culturally superior to their opposing gender. Therefore, the feminization of poverty may continue as women have access to education but not necessarily safe access to desired employment. Since Afghan women are more likely to become widowed or single mothers (or both) as their husbands may be fighting in or victims of the war. Consequently, their economic sustainability is at risk for decline if they are discouraged from the workforce due to historically and culturally enforced social norms and practices that limit a woman's role to domestic life, rather than to both domestic and public life. Women's empowerment and progress is simply essential for the world's economic continuing prosperity as progression is impossible if half the world's population continues to be left behind.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/29/violence-stalks-women-wor_n_=19250452.html?utm_hp_ref=womens-rights
Ketsia Masse, Women, September 29, 2012 2:07 PM
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