The women of Afghanistan BEFORE and AFTER the war 💔

Описание: I can't sleep thinking of the women in Afghanistan 😭💔

More explanation here:

Before decades of conflict, Afghan women’s clothing varied by region, class, and tradition. In urban centers like Kabul during the 1950s–70s, many women wore modern, Western-influenced clothing—skirts, dresses, or tailored suits with headscarves optional (BBC). In rural areas, traditional dress was more common: long colorful tunics, loose trousers, embroidered vests, and a light veil or scarf, with vibrant patterns and jewelry reflecting local culture. Clothing then balanced modesty with cultural diversity, and many women moved freely in public without full veiling.

The Soviet invasion (1979), civil war (1990s), and especially the rise of the Taliban (1996–2001) drastically changed women’s clothing. Under Taliban rule, women were forced to wear the burqa, a full-body covering with only a mesh screen for the eyes. This was not a traditional garment for most Afghans but became a political tool of control, with public appearance without it punishable (Amnesty International). Colorful regional clothing disappeared from view in many cities, replaced by uniformity and enforced modesty.

After 2001, when the Taliban were ousted, Afghan women in urban areas slowly returned to a mix of styles: hijabs with jeans or dresses, business suits with scarves, or traditional embroidered outfits, while many rural women continued to wear conservative clothing by choice or custom. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, however, restrictions have again tightened, with women pressured to wear the burqa or at minimum a niqab, reversing much of the progress (Al Jazeera).

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