Customs and Cuisine of Afghanistan - Together Women Rise (2024)

FAQs

What is Afghan culture for women? ›

Women are largely in charge of the domestic chores, cooking, raising the children, entertaining guests and catering to the needs of the man of the house. It is seen as the woman's duty to ensure guests are properly entertained and catered to in the most hospitable way the household can afford.

Afghan culture is very collectivistic and people generally put their family's interests before their own. This means that family responsibilities tend to hold a greater importance than personal needs. Loyalty to one's family also generally supersedes any obligations to one's tribe or ethnicity.

Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021, women have been wholly excluded from public office and the judiciary. Today, Afghanistan's women and girls are required to adhere to a strict dress code and are not permitted to travel more than 75 km without a mahram. They are compelled to stay at home.

The treasured national dish called Kabuli (or Qabli) Pulao consists of slow-cooked meat in a dome of gently seasoned rice with lentils, raisins, carrots, ground cardamom and nuts. And of course bread (naan) is eaten with just about everything.

Women have been banned from going to parks, gyms, and public bathing houses. They have been stopped from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade. Their ability to work outside of health and education is all but prohibited.

In Afghanistan, menstruation itself is a taboo that even women do not want to discuss it, and the majority of girls experienced shame and fear during their first period,¹⁷ not only in Afghanistan but also a study conducted in Iran confirms it.

Traditionally, dinners are served on a tablecloth on the floor, which is called the dastarkhan. Meals are normally eaten with the right hand. After a meal, tea with dessert is served.

Afghan people avoid pork and products with gelatins and food additives if they are not halal. Like other Muslims around the world, they observe Ramadan, which is a period of obligatory fasting that occurs in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.

Afghan women are not permitted to marry non Muslim men. However, Muslim men can marry Christian and Jewish women. The groom can be a first cousin. The women consult with other members of the family or community and identify the grooms who could be a good match for the girl.

Afghan girls can no longer attend school past sixth grade

Without a way to earn an education, girls are increasingly at risk of exploitation or being sold into marriage. For 22-year-old Maryam, it feels like her life is over before it's even started.

What is banned for women in Afghanistan? ›

The Taliban ban on women's participation in work and education remains unchanged and has had severe economic consequences for Afghanistan and its citizens. It undermines the role of women in families and society, affects the flow of aid, increases poverty and restricts economic growth.

Loyalty and honor to one's family and community are also essential Afghan values. Afghans tend to focus on their community's perception and opinion of them, because Afghanistan is a collectivist society. Many individuals will regularly put their family's and community's needs above their own.

Fatty dishes are an important fuel in this nation of harsh landscapes and freezing winters, with oil used liberally and mutton fat traditionally added to many dishes. Unlike some in their region, Afghans like their food neither too spicy nor too hot, and they are renowned for their use of dried fruit and nuts.

Beyond blocking basic access to food at risk, even the chance to walk in a park, play a sport, or enjoy nature is being stripped away from Afghanistan's women and girls. Women who protest these violations face terrible consequences including enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and torture.

A balanced Afghan diet typically includes staples like rice, bread, lamb, and a variety of vegetables. Incorporate fruits, legumes, and dairy for a well-rounded nutrition. Traditional dishes like Kabuli pulao, kebabs, and Afghan bread provide a mix of nutrients.

The women of Afghanistan are elected officials, school teachers, actors, TV contest winners, ancient rug weavers, and whisperers of forbidden poetry. The Taliban are starting to put down their thumb. But these women want you to know they are more than the timid victim under a burqa.

Since August 2021, Afghan women and girls have been grappling with increasingly restrictive decrees limiting their participation in all aspects of social, economic, and political life. These have confined millions of women to their home, restricting their important contributions to society.

In May 2022, the Taliban issued a decree calling for women to only show their eyes and recommending they wear the head-to-toe burqa, similar to restrictions during the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001.

In Afghanistan, up to 57% of girls are married before they are 19. The most common ages for girls to get married are 15 and 16. Factors such as gender dynamics, family structure, cultural, political, and economic perceptions/ideologies all play a role in determining if a girl is married at a young age.