Written by Shamila Kohestani, Gender Equality Advocate and Former Captain of Afghanistan’s Women Football Team
When I first began to challenge male dominance in Afghan society by playing football, I faced many acts of discrimination and sexual harassment from many people. When I was the captain of the Afghan Women’s National Football Team, I was slut-shamed and called a prostitute for simply participating in a game that I love. I was humiliated and harassed, not only because I was playing football, but because as a woman I was in a man’s world and that made me a threat.
I always felt that no matter what I did I was failing in being the “good woman”. If I covered my face, people would say that I must be a whore because I’m hiding my face. If I didn’t cover my face and wore a chadar people say I must be looking for a husband. If I didn’t cover my head, many men thought they had the right to insult me because I must be promiscuous. After living in Afghanistan and the United States, I have learned that no matter what women wear, society polices our clothing and judges us constantly.
I was disappointed to see that years later, people still obsess over women athlete’s clothes. The past two weeks, a conversation has launched in Afghanistan over some members of Afghan Women’s National Football Team choosing to wear athletic clothes. We’ve never spent time discussing the attire of male athletes. It’s highly important that women are given the freedom to choose what to wear, similar to the men in our society who enjoy the freedom to choose. Every one grows up with a specific set of values based on their ethnic and family background and a variety of other factors. Some women are socially conservatives and some are more secular. Some women are traditional and some women are progressive, and many are somewhere in between. That is the beauty of the diversity that make us stronger as a country. It is time for all of us to recognize this diversity and respect it, instead of imposing our personal views on everyone.
To this day, Afghan women have to fight for their basic human rights. The right to education, to play sports, to work in a public space, to choose their own life partner, to love, and even to be a woman before she is someone else’s is daughter, sister, wife and a mother. Despite these barriers, we continue to make history presenting Afghanistan around the globe by playing football and other sports. The Afghan Women’s National Football Team in particular has worked extremely hard to overcome discrimination, harassment and endless attacks by conservative people similar to Taj Malik Alam, who agitated social media users by attacking them last week. They’ve worked hard despite limited equipment, support, and opportunity. It’s time for good Afghan women and men to support women athletes and focus on their zeal, athleticism, and talent, rather than their outfits.
I stand with the Afghan Women’s National Football Team on their decision to wear football uniforms or a full body suit. I’m not advocating that women wear or not wear the football uniform; I’m advocating for their freedom, the freedom to choose. Let us choose our own destiny and our own attire and have control over our own body. That is the bare minimum of our rights as individuals. It is not too much to ask for.
The Afghan Women’s National Football Team deserves respect because they are people, women, and athletes, but also because they portray a more positive image of women around the world. They show to the world that not all Afghan women are victims, and no Afghan woman is only a victim. They are proof that Afghan women are fighters and future leaders. Our society is already hurting, economically and socially, from a lack of women’s representation and contribution. To strengthen our nation, we have to unite and fight misogynistic traditions and values that prevent women from practicing their basic human rights. The only way we can bring peace and security in Afghanistan is by providing women with the same opportunities as men and by promoting acceptance and pluralism.
If we truly believe in human rights, we must stand behind the Women’s National Football Team and demand from the Afghan Cricket Board to remove Taj Malik Alam from his position. When someone of authority attacks athletes like he has and calls on men to stop supporting the athletic endeavors of the women in their families, it makes an impact. Instead of promoting tolerance, Taj Malik Alam is utilizing his platform to spread hate and further promote the culture of misogyny. Let’s not remain silent, because if we do, we will enable Tajk Malik Alam and people similar to him to continue humiliating Afghan women athletes.
“Religion does not require women to veil their hands, feet and faces or enjoin any
special type of veil. Tribal custom must not impose itself on the free will of the individual.” – King Ammanullah Khan
Photo courtesy of Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team on Facebook.