To What Extent Can Body Politics be Used to Define Afghan Womens Sexuality as Locations of Power and Control under Taliban’s Rule? A Contemporary Foucauldian Interpretation of Femininity in Body Politics
Central Asia. Iran to the west, and Pakistan to the east. We are in Afghanistan, and more specifically, in a Taliban-controlled country. The character of national politics and social connections in Taliban Afghanistan has been shaped by harsh gender policies and patriarchal restrictions. The Taliban’s leadership has exacerbated the country’s weak social structure and lack of a centralised, modern state, resulting in a severe case of underdevelopment (Goodson, 2001). Statistics are instructive: socio-economic issues such as unemployment and poverty account for 20% of national concerns, while education account for 12%, and finally, a lack of essential amenities for 8% (Bizhan, 2013). In this difficult situation, it is logical to wonder: who are the most vulnerable members of this fractured society? The focus turns to women. Indeed, women are the demographic segment paying the largest price for Afghan shortcomings in terms of Taliban decision-making. Taliban’s severe regulations on women, who are denied of countless social opportunities under the Taliban patriarchal culture, disguise Afghan underdevelopment, resulting in detrimental inequalities inside the country (Moghadam 2002).
