Veiled Courage: Inside the Afghan Women's Resistance

Before I started it, I fully expected it to be the typical "academic type" of writing - read the beginning, read the end, and if methodology is an issue, read part of the middle - but I was not only wrong, but pleasantly surprised. I felt it not only reflected a true qualitative, action research work, but a thoughtful and thought provoking treatise on a serious problem in a county with a myriad of problems. Using so many first hand, direct quotes to "fill the book" might be a criticism of some scholars, but I felt that it lent realism and emotion to a text that could have otherwise been a subsequent 10 chapter rehash of chapter one. One of my other fears was that it would be the rantings of yet another feminist such as the radical, out of touch, law professor from Michigan who believes that ALL sex, even within marriage, is rape. This type of "thinking" trivializes the feminist movement rather than advancing it even among women! It clearly was not that. Dr. Benard takes the reader just far enough on the feminist continuum to illustrate poignant issues and urge the reader to empathize with the cause of the Afghan women's' plight without taking a dive into a mindless diatribe against all men everywhere. Great job! Perhaps the real foundation and common thread that is incidentally, or perhaps purposefully, woven throughout the book is the heartbeat of how RAWA carries out its mission. Based on what I have read, RAWA does not only promote women's rights (by itself, ambiguous and subjective) using literacy as its platform, but also addresses the more personal, emotional needs of women. As important as literacy is to critical thinking and decision making, if one's emotions are not stable, the best-intended critical thinking and decision making can be seriously flawed. A stable emotional state is the conduit by which sound decisions are guided. I hope that these groups do not lose sight of what has apparently brought them so far in the face of the opposition they face. If the radicals begin to take a leadership position, they will not only be a much easier target for local governments to ignore - or worse - but will become marginalized by a concerned global community as well.

A very well-written book that provides good factual insights into the historical and operational aspects of RAWA while remaining entertaining to read. Some of the entertaining portions are those where the author's opinions shine through clearly, at times with powerful sarcasm, for instance in her description of the American press's role in perpetuating the mythology surrounding Afghan warriors. A great, fun, and informative read. I can only recommend it.

This inspiring account of the work of RAWA reminds us that feminism is alive and well in the most unlikely places. Benard provides a broad enough context to account for criticism of the "communist" and "revolutionary" aspects of the movement, while offering plenty of stories and anecdotes about its heroes and martyrs. In a country surfeited with martyrs, though, the women who stand out most are the anonymous photographers, translators, teachers, couriers, and organizers, who do the hard work of democracy behind burquas and closed doors. It was also great to read about the many men who support and work with RAWA - this is a nice antidote to the bad rap Afghan men have inherited from the thugs of the Taliban and Northern Alliance. This is a great book to pass on to young people - it makes a lasting case for hope and provides a reminder of how exciting it can be to discover your own power non-violently.

...In the events that followed the September 11th attacks, the world was not only challenged by a growing threat from international terrorism, it was also faced with alarming reality: the gross inequality of women around the world. As a voice that has been virtually silenced since the late 70's, the plea of Afghan women have been, to a great extent, ignored by the international community. In one of the first groundbreaking accounts about the plight of Afghan women under fundamentalist rule, Cheryl Benard - popular academic and a member of the National Security Council under Condoleezza Rice - sheds an inspiring light on the Afghan women's movement. Known as RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan), the women (and men) of this "post-modern" resistance movement have waged a clandestine attack on religious fundamentalism in Afghanistan, which has been responsible for some of the most brutal subordination of women that the world has ever seen.Using the burqa - the very garment which was supposed to delegitimize, desexualize, and essentially dehumanize the Afghan female - the women of RAWA secretly filmed Taliban atrocities, risking torture and execution, in efforts of exposing the terror that was forced upon the people of Afghanistan. Working mainly out of Pakistan, the organization is decentralized but maintains a high degree of structure in order for RAWA to sustain its covert operations in and out of Afghanistan. As a result, these graphic images forced policy makers to rethink their approach to Afghanistan and, as well, it forced the world to respond to a tragedy, which had been hiding under the silence of the burqa."How could the most backward country in the world have produced one of the most daring women's movement in the world?" Benard proposes that the Taliban's implementation of "Gender Apartheid" was a direct factor in sowing the seeds of resistance. What Benard found, was not only a visceral female hate for the Taliban, but also a large dissatisfaction amongst the male citizenry whom, in many cases, were disgusted with the actions of the Taliban government as well. It was clear that the yearning for resistance existed throughout Afghan society, however the only trouble was keeping the resistance at a level of secrecy that could not be penetrated by the ever watchful eyes of the Taliban.As Bernad explains, this was the genius of RAWA. Operating in autonomous cells, RAWA has created a vast network of underground channels of resistance. Embracing the technology of the internet, RAWA has also marketed their cause to the world, gathering massive support from Vladivostok to Vermont, even scoring an hour on Oprah. This quote from an Afghan woman, sadly sums up what RAWA is so intent on fighting,"Each one of our days is more bitter than you can imagine. Under the fundamentalists, a women is less than a bird in a cage. A bird at least is allowed to sing, but according to them, it is a sin for anyone even to hear ou