Does the practice of bacha posh make sense to you or is it entirely foreign? How would you explain why this happens?

After reading the book, does the practice of bacha posh make sense to you or is it entirely foreign? How would you explain why this happens?

Reading and learning about bacha posh was entirely foreign to me. After reading the book, I'm still amazed that such a practice still exists, yet I can understand why it does and why these women feel it is necessary. It happens because half of the population are treated as non entities, their lives are miserable and they will do anything to try to make life more bearable.

It was a very strange practice to me. I had known of women dressing as men to go to war or get a certain job, but that was a century ago. I didn't know it existed although I have read a bit about this culture. It does make sense to me in this culture.

I had never heard of this practice before reading the book. While I can understand why girls in Afghanistan would want to dress, act and be treated like boys, the idea of raising a daughter as a son to gain status or improve reputation makes no sense, particularly because many people know the daughters are actually sons. The idea of numerous families in a community doing this, and everybody knowing it and thinking it's perfectly normal, is completely bizarre to me.

I guess because I have worked with the Afghani society I was aware of the practice. I just did not know what it was called. Once you understand their ways, it is easy to grasp why this practice is necessary.

I do understand why the practice exists even today, as a parent we all want what is best for our children. In this society, it is the only way the girls could get an education.

In the context of their society the practice of bacha posh does make sense to me as does a women dressing as a man. Especially if that is the only way to get work to feed your family, proctect your family or get an education.

Can it both make sense and be entirely foreign? It truly shows how creative and innovative people can be when it's necessary. Turning a daughter into a son for a while can solve many problems for these families. It likely causes many more but that's something to be dealt with later. When every day is a struggle to survive, when a son is the thing that a society values most, turning a daughter into a son simply makes sense. What fascinates me the most is the level of self-deception that's required to pull this off. It seems that most people know when this is happening but they turn a blind eye. Why is everybody so willing to accept a girl pretending to be a boy more than a girl going out in public?

For the views in that country it makes complete sense to practice bacha posh although I feel it causes gender identity crises for a lot of the girls and I can completely understand a girl that is bacha posh balking at going back to being herself. and losing the liberties she's become accustomed to.

This was not entirely foreign because I'm familiar with some Polynesian families raising boys as girls. This is done for different reasons. I don't know if this is happening in the U.S. (bacha posh.) ineed to do some research.

I understand why the practice exists but I think the women should work more to change t heir own lot. I know, easier for me to say then for them to do.

As some previous users have commented, the practice both makes sense and defies logic to me at the same time. On the one hand - as I began to understand the depth of (what I think can be accurately labeled) hatred of women within this culture, the idea that women would begin to dress as men and hide their true identities is an absolute no brainer. And you almost want to applaud them for it! They are taking their destinies into their own hands, and the idea of living alongside men and yet not being found out, is such an incredible form of rebellion you can't help but want to cheer them on. ON THE OTHER HAND - they are perpetuating their own oppression by responding in this way. What you truly want is for them to stand up and not take it any more; to refuse to be anything other than who they are, AND to demand the same rights and access as males. That being said, I am well aware that these women risk harm to themselves and, tragically, their children if they do not submit. It is an unspeakable atrocity. One can only hope that as the Western influence continues to infiltrate, the level of education that the people of Afghanistan have access to, can help to move things toward a more equal society.

In the context of this culture it makes a strange kind of sense. It is an example of the lengths women will go to in order to make every day life better for their families. It saddens me to think how long it may take for fundamentalist cultures around the world to accept that well educated women are able to raise and help support healthier families than undereducated women. It is not being male that makes the difference, it is being educated and expected to try to reach potential.