The Women of Afghanistan under the Taliban by Rosemarie Skaine

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Synopsis

Sociologist Skaine presents a brief overview of the quality of life for Afghan women under the former Taliban regime of Afghanistan, as well as women's responses to the Taliban. After presenting a brief overview of the history of Afghanistan, discussing how women have played a much more prominent role in Afghan civil and political life in the past, she details many of the abuses of the Taliban regime and discusses whether their treatment of women is somehow intrinsic to the practice of Islam. A significant part of the work includes profiles of a couple dozen Afghan women, many of whom resisted Taliban policies by opening schools, documenting abuses, and building resistance organizations. This section is helped by the fact that Skaine is able to present interviews collected by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), thereby gaining access to voices that aren't normally heard in Western sources. The rapid turning of events following the U.S. attack on the country necessarily dates a final chapter on the prospects for the future.

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Caitlin Augusta - VOYA

Current events have brought the status of women in Afghanistan to the attention of Americans, making this title a timely addition to high school and college libraries. It is well organized, detailing Afghan women's roles in pre-Taliban society, Islam, and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The text, however, is composed primarily of quotations from various sources, and it lacks the seamless quality of a well-thought-out reference. The author has not condensed the material for the reader, showing the editorial haste to bring this book to press while the issues were still current. Nonetheless Skaine's book is an acceptable resource on a popular topic. One outstanding portion of the book that offsets many of its flaws is a chapter of first-person interviews from female refugees from Afghanistan. Rich and informative, it illustrates the complexity of female oppression in this country. Afghanistan's own women, from every economic and educational background, enumerate the issues causing their present plight. They note the interference of the Taliban but also that of the Russians and the Pakistani and describe the tribal conflicts within their borders. Their suggestions for reform are insightful, and their fortitude remarkable. For older students with an interest or assignment in this area, Skaine's book provides ample fodder for discussion and investigation. Glossary. Index. Maps. Charts. Biblio. Source Notes. Chronology. Appendix. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2001, McFarland, 198p. PLB