The author outlines a pervasive culture of violence and extreme segregation. Which part of the story, if any, made you angry? Why?
Created: 06/26/15
Replies: 16
Join Date: 10/15/10
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Join Date: 04/22/11
Posts: 26
Women are blamed for not bearing sons, even though it is the father who determines the sex of the child. Even men who know this as scientific fact continue to place all responsibility for a baby's gender on women.
I was also angered by this culture's elevated status for the male gender, and greatly devalued status for the female gender. Girls are made to live very restricted lives, while boys have the freedom to do whatever they please. Unless girls are given more freedom to play outdoors, to become educated, to experience the world outside, they will remain servile, because they won't ever know what they are capable of accomplishing. And that's exactly where this patriarchal society wants them.
Finally, a husband's mistreatment of his wife comes directly from society's inferior view of women as shown in the way Azita's husband treated her after she lost her MP position. The divorce laws are totally in favor of the male.
I could probably come up with more, but enough said for now.
Join Date: 02/18/15
Posts: 497
It all made me angry, to learn that women could be treated in such a manner. It also made me angry that we, the United States has given billions of dollars to aid, especially in the education of women, and it has been misused by corrupt leaders. Shouldn't we be more watchful??
Join Date: 03/11/15
Posts: 120
Pretty much the entire story. It is no wonder this country is so pitifully backward. How can they justify treating half of the population this way. They must be terribly afraid of women to go to such lengths to keep them completely out of society. But then I was often angry of the women for allowing this and, in fact, perpetuating it.
Join Date: 02/18/15
Posts: 497
The more I think about the life of these women, the angrier I become. The fact that a man can stand behind his wife and mumble a word three times over and he is considered divorced is ludicrous. The woman must appear in court and bring witnesses from the family, she may be accused of being unfaithful and put in jail and will , of course lose her children--all on his say so.
I agree with Gloria, the book should be required reading in every high school.
Join Date: 06/19/12
Posts: 407
It makes me angry that there is a culture in which a woman's life has so little value. They bear the blame if there are no sons; they are subject to violence and disrespect for no reason; their lives are totally restricted so they will be "pure" enough to have to put up with that violent and terrible treatment. I have two daughters, both adult professionals with exception husbands. I cannot imagine watching them live a life under the conditions described in this book.
Join Date: 09/07/12
Posts: 142
The whole story made me angry. That women have no choices whatsoever about when or who they marry or how many children they have, that they can't leave the house, the way they have to "occupy less space", not make eye contact, speak a certain way - the whole shebang. The other thing that makes me angry is the number of American lives that have been lost in the USA's rather arrogant attempt to bring Afghanistan into the 21st century - and not because I don't believe the people are worth the effort. But unfortunately, as long as Afghanistan clings to its extreme patriarchal and patrilineal culture, where 'reputation' is so important that people pretend to have sons and having a pretend son that everyone knows is really a daughter actually raises your status - it will always remain pathetically backward.
Join Date: 08/19/11
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Join Date: 06/29/15
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Join Date: 03/22/12
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Join Date: 03/14/15
Posts: 18
I was angry as well at how women are treated over there by men and how in my opinion, they are nothing but slaves to their families & husbands. I didn't like the fact that women are blamed for girls being born versus boys being born. Hello...welcome to the 21st century!
Join Date: 10/16/10
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Join Date: 04/12/12
Posts: 294
The whole way women are treated is pretty disgusting. Really, a man can just say they are divorced and then he is free to do what he wants? And it seemed that when the women did get to work out of the home, the guys were just living off of them. I also thought it was totally unfair to the young girls to be raised as a boy and then have to switch back at puberty. The women doing this to their daughters didn't seem to take any phycolocgical damage this was doing to their daughters. It would be better to raise their daughters to be stronger people as women.
Join Date: 04/23/11
Posts: 118
It all makes me angry. It makes me angry when people use religion to promote their own agendas. It makes me angry that men hate women so much and treat them so badly and feel more manly for doing so. It makes me angry that women are so unhappy with their lot in life and yet are afraid to say so even to other women. And it makes me angry that despite all the money and volunteer hours we've spent we seem no closer to making the situation better for anyone.
Join Date: 05/08/11
Posts: 113
Pretty much the whole book made me angry. I was also glad to raised in a more equal society. Shortly after reading the book, I heard someone use the phrase "male chauvinist pig." It made me laugh, that person, so irate at having a man ask her for a cup of coffee, was simply clueless about the rest of the world. I wondered what her reaction to the book would have been.
Join Date: 07/30/15
Posts: 22
I think the thing that made me the most angry in this book, was the evidence of how these women are in the position they are in because of a lack of education and a culture that does all it can to prevent women from accessing education. It was interesting to me the differences in the bacha posh and Afghan cultures between the city and the country or small villages; the women in the city had a slightly better situation with that much more access to the outside world - and the truth (about biology, etc). It almost didn't make sense that any women were / are able to get an education, learn about the world around them outside of Afghanistan, and discover the lies they have been taught to believe (i.e., a woman can will herself to have a boy - etc.) - considering the extreme degree of oppression that exists in the country. I am so thankful that there are women who have access to resources - it is not nearly enough, but it is a start and thank God for that.
Join Date: 08/06/15
Posts: 3
I was angered by the fact that woman are almost worthless in this culture except for the fact that they may bring another male into the world! How sad to think that woman have to fear having daughters instead of sons and that they are shamed, have no freedom to speak of, and are considered less than 2nd class citizens! It's shameful that the men of these countries can continue this despicable behavior in this day and age. It only shows how far this culture needs to mature.
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