Women’s Rights in Post-U.S. Afghanistan: Assessing the Impact of the Taliban's Return on Gender Equality

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Women Rights
• Afghanistan
• Taliban Regime
• Patriarchy

ABD Sonrası Afganistan'da Kadın Hakları: Taliban'ın Cinsiyet Eşitliğine Geri Dönüşünün Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Bu araştırma, ABD'nin Afganistan'dan çekilmesinin ve Taliban’ın Ağustos 2021'de yeniden iktidara gelmesinin ardından kadın hakları ve toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğinde yaşanan gerilemeyi incelemektedir. Feminist ve postkolonyal kuram temelinde yürütülen bu çalışma, Taliban tarafından dayatılan eğitim, istihdam, sağlık hizmetlerine erişim ve kadınların sosyo-politik katılımına yönelik kısıtlamaları ele almaktadır. Afgan diasporasındaki kadınlarla yapılan nitel görüşmelerin yanı sıra ulusal ve uluslararası raporların analizine dayanan araştırma; Taliban politikalarının ideolojik temellerini, kadınlar üzerindeki psikolojik ve ekonomik etkileri ve tabandan gelen direniş ile dijital aktivizmin yükselişini ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca, mevcut Taliban rejimi ile önceki (1996–2001) dönemi karşılaştırarak toplumsal cinsiyet politikalarında süreklilik ve dönüşüm boyutlarını değerlendirmektedir. Makale, Afganistan'daki toplumsal cinsiyet apartheid’ine karşı kültürel bağlamlara duyarlı yerel savunuculuk stratejilerinin geliştirilmesi ve uluslararası desteğin güçlendirilmesi gerektiğini savunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Kadın Hakları
• Afganistan
• Taliban Rejimi
• Ataerkillik

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