The Taliban have taken multiple steps to walk back women's rights including forbidding education for girls beyond grade six and banning women from universities.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/23718803

Summary

The Taliban have banned windows in homes that allow views of areas where Afghan women might be seen, citing concerns over “obscene acts.”

This new decree mandates blocking or obstructing such windows in existing and new buildings, continuing the group’s systemic repression of women since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

The Taliban’s policies have included bans on women’s education, public appearances, and voices.

Critics, including the U.N., warn these actions dangerously erode human rights, while activists call out global inaction over the ongoing oppression.

  • intensely_human@lemm.eeEnglish
    13·
    4 days ago

    Individually, they’re probably racing for social status by demonstrating more extreme versions of the existing set of rules.

    It’s a common thing in human cultures to gain social status by exemplifying a more extreme version of whatever the social norm is.

    In this case, the norm got established as “special niche for women” and now it’s a runaway process of status-seeking.

    Kinda like peacocks and their feathers. Instead of sexual selection in the case of peacocks, this is social selection as men compete for higher and higher status by having more and more ridiculous displays of “look how well I embody this control women rule”.

    So it’s not like they’re trying to engineer some specific social benefit. That is, ostensibly, the reasoning. But in actuality, each man who proposes or backs and further encroachment on the women is doing so for his own selfish gain: in the form of social status.

    Kinda like there’s no utilitarian value to having ridiculously huge hats, but a person in a culture where big hats signal status can gain prestige by putting on a bigger hat.

    This is social status seeking, in the form of purity demonstration.

    • hactar42@lemmy.mlEnglish
      7·
      4 days ago

      Thanks, that helps me understand it better. In my head I was comparing it to systems like apartheid. Which with apartheid there are clear economic benefits for the oppressors. Like cheap/slave labor and by having more opportunities than others. I’m not saying I agree with any of that, but I see why people would do it. But with the Taliban being such a part a patriarchal society to begin with, you would think at some point the oppression would have negative impacts on the oppressors. Of course, there I go trying to apply logic and reasoning for hatred and oppression.

      I think the peacock comparison you made is perfect. I still can’t comprehend how anyone could belittle another person to make themselves feel better, but it tracks. Thanks for the great response.

    • SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      Yup. In any group you’ll always have those who seek status by being more extreme than the rest. Others in the group feed this by giving them their applause and attention. You see this in even something as trivial as a shared interest groups like hiking or biking. Here the Taliban making this decision (and not all of them want this) are showing they are “more devout and better Muslims than the rest” and also trying to justify their positions.

      It is also a good way to deflect attention from the fact that the economy is shit and the Taliban have been lousy rulers.