Do you agree with the author's conclusion that women's rights are essential to human rights and to building peaceful civilizations?

Do you agree with the author's conclusion that women's rights are essential to human rights and to building peaceful civilizations? Why or why not?

Absolutely, when half of your society is held in virtual slavery, there can be no peace. The sad part is that these women are so limited in their education and knowledge of the outside, they eventually turn against one another. This suits their masters just fine. Women are raising the future generations to believe and to accept what they have been led to believe is right, perpetuating the problem.

Women's rights continue to be overlooked and this prevents 1/2 of the hands holding up the earth a clear voice into what is happening in the world. Would there be less war (or perhaps less war-mongering) if women's voices were heard and listened to. I believe so.

Women's rights are essential and education is the key. Not only educating these young girls and women in Afghanistan but also educating our citizens so that we all know what is going on in these countries so that we can do what we must to help these women gain their rights. This book should be required reading in high schools.

Women's rights are essential to human rights, and human rights are essential to civilization.

The author, through the help of an accomplished translator, studied both sex and gender and nature and nurture which helped me understand this custom. I agree with Nordberg's conclusion that without peace and prosperity, traditions, such as alliances through arranged marriages in which women are used as trading chips, will continue. Highly recommended with 5 stars!!

Women's rights are important for any civilization to function. Education for all is essential for any society to improve.

Sallyh and pennyp hit the nail on the head. This is not a problem confined to Afghanistan, even though Nordberg's work provides an excellent example of the truth of her position.

Unquestionably. Jenny Nordberg uses the bacha posh to make this point vividly. What came as an utter surprise to me is the realization that the effort needs to include the men just as much as, or possibly even more than, the women. It doesn't matter what the women believe about their rights if they fear for their lives every day. I think the foreign aid the world provides needs to be directed at the men as well.

Absolutely. The writer and historian Will Durant said, "The family is the nucleus of civilization." I believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a nation. A woman who is no longer powerless and bound by overwhelming limitations is inspired and motivated to achieve her full potential, and will raise her children with the same values and expectations.

I totally agree with the author. Her point at the end about giving women rights is a measure of civilization hit home with me. Keeping the women in the subservient role also keeps the men in Afghanistan from advancing. These societies are missing out on 1/2 of their countries potential for success. Keeping the women ignorant also makes the men more ignorant. I read a recent article that Rwanda has a largest percentage of women in government of any other country (due to the shortage of men after the genocide) and that the laws and progress in that country have been more progressive than any other country. That would be an example of how women can change things.

Absolutely! Education is the key to improving women's rights. This includes the education of men as well as the women.
Unfortunately, cultural "beliefs" overpower the thought that women should have rights. The advancement of civilization in Afghanistan will not happen until society as a whole accepts new concepts through education.

Oh, my goodness, yes indeed. How can one overlook the rights of 50% or more of the world's population? The book we are discussing certainly illustrates that in good fashion. When women must resort to subterfuge to be even close to equal to men, then things must change. The author does an outstanding job of pointing this out through the mothers and daughters in his book. Not only do Black lives count, but Women's lives, regardless of race, nationality, social status, etc. count!