Title: The career women of Kabul and their struggle for an empowered identity

Authors: Waslat Lema Atifmal; Cody Morris Paris; Mahine Rizvi Ahmad

Addresses: Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa ' Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of Afghan women as they pursue careers in post-Taliban Kabul and how these experiences help shape their identity. This study, through in-depth interviews with professional women in Kabul, explores how women continue to challenge stereotypes and fight various forms of oppression. The results of the study have highlighted how women in Afghanistan are motivated by opportunities to exercise economic autonomy and empowered identities that challenge both historical issues of patriarchal society. However, there are still many barriers facing Afghan women including access to quality education, political instability along with issues around challenging Western stereotypes and assumptions regarding Afghan women.

Keywords: empowerment; social justice; post-Taliban; Afghanistan; social inclusion; post-conflict education; international development; gender equality; education access.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSS.2020.108434

International Journal of Society Systems Science, 2020 Vol.12 No.2, pp.118 - 135

Received: 07 Dec 2018
Accepted: 19 Feb 2020
Published online: 13 Jul 2020 *

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