Why the Taliban Doesn’t Want Women Going to University

In August 2021, the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, ending the country's two decades of progress in expanding access to education for girls and women. Today it was announced that the Taliban would be banning women from attending university.

The Taliban has a long history of opposing women's education and rights, and during their previous rule in the 1990s, the group banned women from attending school and university, and even prohibited them from leaving their homes without a male relative.

So why is that?

Well, oppressive regimes often try to control and suppress their citizens, and one way they do this is by limiting the education and opportunities available to certain groups of people, including women. There are a few reasons why oppressive regimes may not want women to go to university:

Limited opportunities for women

In many oppressive regimes, women are often not afforded the same opportunities as men. This may include access to education and job opportunities. By preventing women from attending university, oppressive regimes can limit the potential for women to become leaders and make meaningful contributions to society.

Control and suppression of women

Oppressive regimes may also see women's education as a threat to their own power and control. By educating women, they may be more likely to challenge traditional gender roles and demand more rights and equality. This could potentially lead to social and political unrest, which oppressive regimes want to avoid at all costs.

Maintaining traditional gender roles

In some societies, there are strict gender roles that dictate what roles men and women should play in society. Oppressive regimes may want to maintain these traditional gender roles and may see women's education as a threat to these roles. They may fear that educated women will challenge traditional gender roles and push for more equality and independence.

Economic reasons

Oppressive regimes may also see women's education as a financial burden. They may not want to invest in educating women if they believe that women will not contribute to the economy in the same way that men do.

Overall, there are several reasons why oppressive regimes may not want women to go to university. These include limiting opportunities for women, maintaining control and suppression of women, preserving traditional gender roles, and economic reasons. However, despite these efforts, women around the world continue to fight for their right to education and equality, and their efforts are an important step towards building more just and equal societies.

It's clear the Taliban's opposition to women's education is driven by a desire to maintain a strict gender hierarchy and control over Afghan society. However, this opposition is not only harmful to women, but also to the country. By denying women the opportunity to receive an education, the Taliban is depriving Afghanistan of the contributions and talents of half its population.

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