Afghan Women Navigate a Shattered Workforce Under Taliban Rule

Afghan women like Frozan Ahmadzai face severe restrictions under Taliban rule, limiting their access to education and meaningful employment. Once aspiring professionals, many now find limited opportunities in tailoring and food production. Despite harsh conditions, small successes and solidarity in their communities offer hope.

Under the shadow of Taliban rule, Afghan women like Frozan Ahmadzai are navigating a drastically altered landscape. Denied access to higher education and many jobs, Ahmadzai now sews and makes pickles in a basement, a stark contrast to her dreams of becoming a doctor.

The situation is dire. Half of Afghanistan's population is barred from the freedom to work amid a crumbling economy. Opportunities for women have dwindled, with workforce participation plummeting from 14.8% in 2021 to 4.8% in 2023, according to World Bank data. Strict societal norms and Taliban restrictions confine women to roles in tailoring, food production, and minimal other sectors.

Despite these hurdles, the solidarity among women offers a glimmer of hope. Ahmadzai and her colleagues persevere, supporting each other against the backdrop of economic hardship, inadequate resources, and constant restrictions. The chamber supporting women entrepreneurs underscores their critical role in sustaining Afghanistan's fragile economy, even as the Taliban's stringent rules persist.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)