By Beheshta Jaehori B.Sc. (Hon.), University of Toronto, 2001 A
AFGHAN WOME,N'S EXPERIENCESDURNG THE TALIBAN REGIME by BeheshtaJaehori B.Sc.(Hon.), University of Toronto,2001 A THESISSUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FORTHE DEGREEOF MASTEROF ARTS in The Facultyof GraduateStudies (CounsellingPsychology) THE LINIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLLMBIA (Vancouver) August,2009 @ BeheshtaJaghori, 2009 Abstract A plethoraof researchhas depictedAfghan women during the Talibanreign in a varietyof ways,ranging from oppressed"victims of the burqa" to heroic "social actors." In this study, I examinedthe lived experiencesof women in Afghanistanunder the Talibanregime, as articulatedby ordinarywomen themselves.Data from 11 women were gatheredthrough the use of individual interviews,and analyzedusing Miles and Hubermans'(1994) analytic framework. Themes emerged that describedthe Taliban regime'spolicies regarding Afghan women,the overallresponses of women to the policies,including the impactof thosepolicies at the time (1996-2001),the ongoing impact,and the situationof women in the post-Talibanera. The Talibanregime's anti-women policies denied women education,employment, and freedomof movement.Those who committedany infractionswere met with severe punishment.The impact of thesepolicies led to variouspsychological effects, including: anxiety,fear, and synptoms of depressionand posttraumatic stress. Despite the condemnablerestrictions, Afghan women's agency,no matterhow limited, was present andcontinuously exercised on differentoccasions. Despite the gainsfor somewomen, eightyears after the removalof the Talibanregime, Afghan women still do not appearto havemade substantive progress with regardto oppressivecustoms, violence, and their positionin Afghan society.The studyresults and their analysisis especiallytimely, given the increasingTaliban insurgencyin Afghanistan,and the looming possibility of a resurrectedTaliban rule in the countrv. 111 Table of Contents Abstract .........ii Tableof Contents.. ....iii Acknowledgments.... ......viii ChapterOne: Introduction. .........1 Situatingthe Researcher .....2 Summary....
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