Summary
Afghanistan's women saw two decades of progress vanish when U.S. forces withdrew in August as the Taliban took back control of the country. The group's arch-conservative interpretation of Islam pushed women out of the workplace, and cast most young women and girls out of school. But as Jane Ferguson and videographer Eric O'Connor report, some women in Afghanistan are not taking this lying down.Five Facts
- Who took control of Afghanistan this past fall?
- What has been some of the impact of Taliban control of Afghanistan on women and girls in the country?
- Why are the women interviewed in this piece putting themselves at risk by protesting?
- How has economic collapse worsened conditions for women in Afghanistan?
- What is the most important freedom that many interviewed in this piece seem to want?
Focus Questions
Do you think the United States government should have any ongoing role in helping the people of Afghanistan, even after having occupied the country for 20 years? If so, what sort of role? Media literacy: Why do you think the reporter in this story took such great personal risk to see the women's protest?For More
What can U.S. citizens do to help address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan? Read this article to find out what you can do .S ign up for NewsHour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning. Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources.
