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Segregation

Segregation
Segregation is very misunderstood.   To some people it gives them a basis how to live there life; or it is all they know.   In the memoir West of Kabul, East of New York, by Tamim Ansary, you find out that not everyone has the same rights or individualism as we American do.   Afghans live in a more complex world.   “It’s not divided into a men’s world and a women’s world; the division was between public and private” (Ansary 16).   While Americans are opposed to the idea of segregation, in Afghanistan it is part of their culture.
In Afghanistan after the Taliban had taken over, lots of laws and regulations had started to take effect on how Afghans were allowed to live their life, especially the women.   “Islam as a recruiting religion has determined specific dignity for women; Islam has valuable instructions for women” (Streissguth 133).   If they choose to obey these actions they will be cursed by the Islamic Sharia and should never expect to go to heaven (Streissguth 133). Afghans did not have the ability to live freely.
Women living in Afghanistan have the responsibility to run the household and raise the children whereas the men go to work as farmers.   In some cases, women are required to go outside the household for educational purposes, social needs, or social services (Streissguth 133).  
When leaving the house they are to cover themselves with a burka that fully covers their body.


By doing so this makes them feel as if they are a “thing” rather then an actual person. “They lose who they are, their personhood, their humanity, and what ever prestige they have with their man
(Jones 160)”.   It is a symbol of showing protection and for hiding self identity.  
In Afghanistan, hiding your self identity is something cherished very strongly. Afghans tend to feel more at home with others in their “clan” then they do with strangers (Jones 18). Afghans trusts no one but themselves. When one stepped out of the compounds they would use different...