Blind Chickens & Social Animals: Creating Spaces for Afghan Women's Narratives Under the Taliban

I thought that this book offered an excellent view of what life was like in Afghanistan under the Taliban. In fact, it is the best book I have read on the subject. "Blind Chickens and Social Animals" is most effective as a guide to the realities of everyday life in Afghanistan. It resulted from numerous interviews in the period from 1998 to 2000 with women from the regions of strong Taliban control. Some of these women were in refugee camps at the time, others had remained in Afghanistan.The book discusses the things these women had to say about a number of issues, including: Dress restrictions, health care, women's work, changes in technology, and differences between towns and villages. By focusing on what the women themselves thought about these issues, it gives a very personal look into the difficulties of life under the Taliban and the struggles of women to survive that regime.The book is especially valuable because of the limited number of worthwhile books on contemporary Afghanistan. This is the only book I know of that adequately discusses the plight of women there in recent years.

I found this book to be an honest and straight-forward portrayal of women in Afghanistan, especially having had been there nearly 30 years ago. If you ever wonder about what you hear on the news...i.e. the constant negative referrals to womens role/dress in Afghanistan....then read this book for a reality check. Although the rule of the Taliban was harsh compared to the pre-Taliban era, things really aren't all that different for the majority of Afghan women. Most women wore the burka (covering) and they still do. It's a tradition that is not necessarily the terrible symbol of oppression that we place upon it. Also, most Afghans, both men and women, are poor, uneducated and live in a rural, agricultural society...not just the women. What I liked about this book is that the discussions are in the womens own words. Women describe their lives without being screened through some academic psycho-babble interpretation of what they really mean to say. This is valuable because it is the only book of its kind that I know of. Reports on rural Afghan women that are written mostly in their own words are rare as Afghanistan is so isolated and most women there live in seclusion. Yes, some women held professional jobs, but this was the minority and mostly in Kabul; rural lives have not changed as much. It was interesting to hear that these women were just recently introduced to radio, cars, and television...things that were largely unavailable when I was there. It was also illuminating to see how many were married at an early age...before they were even 10 years old, but that they want this to change. It is apparent from reading this book, that the international community can continue to help by providing things that these people want and benefit from, such as basic health care, education, and micro-economic development. The things that we take for granted over here are generally unavailable in most of Afghanistan, from clean water and central heat to jobs and education, but the Afghans are strong, resiliant people that have a rich, ancient and beautiful culture to share. I hope that we can help ensure the survival of their way of life, and not diminish it with our Western perspectives. This book lifts the veil and helps us to understand their way of life by giving a true and honest portrayal... and it's a quick and easy read that won't bog you down with the rhetoric we so commonly hear.

Two Hundred-eighteen women were interviewed over a 3 year period from southern Afghanistan and the refugee villages of Pakistan. While this is a scholarly work, clearly laying out the research methodology, I found it a compelling read for the content as expressed by the women who were interviewed, and the details of their daily lives. We learn how they experience their own situations and lives, their hopes and aspirations, their sources of information, health care, how they view dress codes, how they generate income, what it's like to be a woman alone in their society, and views on so many more topics on interest to us all.