The challenges to political participation of women in Afghanistan: Historical and cultural perspectives

Abstract

Issues of women’s rights, including political and social rights, are important topics and relevant to the political development of countries. Unfortunately, many Afghan women have been deprived of their rights and privileges for numerous reasons. The purpose of this study is to investigate and identify the challenges facing women’s political participation in Afghanistan and to present strategies that can pave the way for women’s political participation. The results show that there are challenges in the context of women’s political participation, most notably cultural, historical and ideological problems. Afghanistan’s current socio-economic environmental conditions contribute to tribal culture and clan-centric life patterns, characterized by patriarchy and centred on manhood. The patriarchal structure of society defines and interprets religious teachings as masculine and in favour of men. Cumulatively, issues such as educational barriers, economic dependence, gender gaps, and hundreds of other such obstacles, are at the root of the challenges to women’s political participation. The relationship between these causes is such that the strengthening of one leads to the strengthening of the others, and vice versa.