Research Article

A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions

Number: 122 June 7, 2026
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A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions

Abstract

Gender discrimination in higher education has drawn significant attention. In Afghanistan, it has become a serious concern, limiting women’s rights and weakening social and economic development. The aim of this article is to examine gender discrimination in higher education in Afghanistan. This article analyzes the historical, cultural, political, and religious factors that have contributed to women’s exclusion from universities, focusing on the restrictions introduced since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and the official ban on women’s university education in December 2022. The study is based on a qualitative historical–causal approach and uses books, scholarly articles, and international reports as its sources. Findings show that patriarchal traditions, restrictive regimes, economic hardship, and misinterpretations of Islamic values have created systemic barriers to women’s education. These barriers reduce opportunities for women and lead to negative consequences for Afghan society. The results reveal that reorganizing education policies, raising public awareness, and protecting women’s right to education are necessary steps toward gender equality and national development.

Keywords

Afghanistan, Taliban, Education, Higher Education, Women’s Rights, Gender Discrimination, Gender Equality.

References

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  4. Alizada, P., et al. (2025). “Why I was born a woman”: Female students’ challenges in Afghanistan higher education under the Taliban rule. Higher Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-025-01454-8
  5. Baliamoune‑Lutz, M., & McGillivray, M. (2015). The impact of gender inequality in education on income in Africa and the Middle East. Economic Modelling, 47, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2014.11.031
  6. Bamik, H. (2018). Afghanistan’s cultural norms and girls’ education: Access and challenges (Master’s thesis, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO). Retrieved from ResearchGate.
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  8. Becker, G. S. (2009). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education (3rd ed.). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. (Original work published 1964)
  9. Beiter, K. D. (2006). The protection of the right to education by international law. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
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APA
Ramizy, M., & Altınok, V. (2026). A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi, 122. https://doi.org/10.36484/liberal.1853726
AMA
1.Ramizy M, Altınok V. A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi. 2026;(122). doi:10.36484/liberal.1853726
Chicago
Ramizy, Manizha, and Vicdan Altınok. 2026. “A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions”. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi, nos. 122. https://doi.org/10.36484/liberal.1853726.
EndNote
Ramizy M, Altınok V (June 1, 2026) A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi 122
IEEE
[1]M. Ramizy and V. Altınok, “A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions”, Liberal Düşünce Dergisi, no. 122, June 2026, doi: 10.36484/liberal.1853726.
ISNAD
Ramizy, Manizha - Altınok, Vicdan. “A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions”. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi. 122 (June 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.36484/liberal.1853726.
JAMA
1.Ramizy M, Altınok V. A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi. 2026. doi:10.36484/liberal.1853726.
MLA
Ramizy, Manizha, and Vicdan Altınok. “A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions”. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi, no. 122, June 2026, doi:10.36484/liberal.1853726.
Vancouver
1.Manizha Ramizy, Vicdan Altınok. A Study of Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Afghanistan: Challenges, Causes, and Solutions. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi. 2026 Jun. 1;(122). doi:10.36484/liberal.1853726