Veiled Courage: Inside the Afghan Women's Resistance

by Cheryl Benard

In Afghanistan under Taliban rule, women were forbidden to work or go to school, they could not leave their homes without a male chaperone, and they could not be seen without a head-to-toe covering called the burqa . A woman’s slightest infractions were met with brutal public beatings. That is why it is both appropriate and incredible that the sole effective civil resistance to Taliban rule was made by women. Veiled Courage reveals the remarkable bravery and spirit of the women of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), whose daring clandestine activities defied the forces of the Taliban and earned the world’s fierce admiration.The complete subordination of women was one of the first acts of the Taliban. But the women of RAWA refused to cower. They used the burqa to their advantage, secretly photographing Taliban beatings and executions, and posting the gruesome pictures on their multi-language website, rawa.org, which is read around the world. They organized to educate girls and women in underground schools and to run small businesses in the border towns of Pakistan that allowed widows to support their families.If caught, any RAWA activist would have faced sure death. Yet they persisted.With the overthrow of the Taliban now a reality, RAWA faces a new defeating the powers of Islamic fundamentalism of which the Taliban are only one face and helping build a society in which women are guaranteed full human rights.Cheryl Benard, an American sociologist and an important advisor to RAWA, uses her inside access to write the first behind-the-scenes story of RAWA and its remarkably brave women. Veiled Courage will change the way Americans think of Afghanistan, casting its people and its future in a new, more hopeful light.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle East, Womens Studies, Feminism, Islam, Womens

Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Cheryl Benard (born in 1953) is an American-Austrian social scientist with a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna and a B.A. from the American University of Beirut. She is a novelist and an author on topics including popular sociology, refugees, women in nation-building, youth radicalization in the European Diaspora, and humanitarian aid. Before becoming an adjunct researcher with the RAND Corporation and President of ARCH International, she was the research director of a European think tank, the Boltzmann Institute of Politics and before that, she taught Political Science at the University of Vienna.
She married Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Reviews

[Vera Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all this is a personal review. My initial response when I read this book was anger. I thought this was the sort of orientalist book in which Muslim women are portrayed as oppressed and their voice unheard. My anger subsided when I read further that sadly it is the reality for women in Afghanistan. This book tells inspiring story of the brave RAWA women. My critic of the book is the association of Western culture as the best, progressive, unimaginable freedom. The writer fondly reminisced about Afghan society prior to Taliban where women are wearing miniskirts, listening to Western music and watching Western films. Is adopting or imitating Western culture always means progress? Isn't it a little oversimplistic to judge whether a society is progressive/backwards based on sartorial choice or the availability of Western products? The book brought out the topic of burqa again and again. As much as I disagree with the concept of burqa, equating freedom to sartorial choice is again reductive (but then again If I were a woman under Taliban I would've totally despised it too). I can't help but sensed that there is a hint of Western cultural superiority here. I don't think Afghan women should be more like the women of the developed/western world (as expressed in this book). Indeed, in terms of access to education and other basic human rights we should look up to the West, but personal things like lifestyle I'm not so sure. I still have reservation on cultural interventionism, I believe no culture is superior to others (although cultural practices like FGM is out of the question). On a different note, I agree with the author's point that today we live in a post-modern world in which things we previously regard as mutually exclusive can actually mix together, like Islam and feminism. Anyway, the book gets better towards the end. I'm still contemplating whether to give it 2.5 or 3 star.

[Dawn Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book would be a heavy read, but it was actually very inspiring.

[Maya Swope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women in Afghanistan have been denied their freedom under the rule of fundamentalists, and one woman who was interviewed poignantly expressed the sentiment of many. She told author Cheryl Benard, “To women in another country who might read your book, I want to say this...Under the fundamentalists, a woman is less than a bird in a cage. A bird at least is allowed to sing, but according to them, it is a sin for anyone even to hear our voice” (135). Veiled Courage, written by Benard, brings to light some of the evils inflicted upon these women. More importantly, however, it emphasizes the incredible triumphs brought about by a strong, courageous group of Afghan women. This group, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), grew in the midst of Taliban violence. RAWA held peaceful protests, passed out copies of their magazine, and spoke out against the suppression of women. As the Taliban grew increasingly violent, RAWA was forced to move more of its operations undercover and to the bordering refugee camps in Pakistan. There, although they provided countless social services to many people in the camps, one of the most important things they did was provide a free education to women and girls of all ages. This helped to create a large group of educated women and men alike who were dedicated to the RAWA ideals of freedom, democracy, and women’s rights. This is an amazing and informative story, and it is a feminist book that has connections to global politics and an overarching theme of solidarity and persistence in the face of adversity.

A book written by a woman about a group of strong, self-educating females fighting for their rights would naturally be considered a feminist book. This story and this organization, however, go much beyond that with relation to the feminist cause. Immediately apparent is a feminist hero, a fiercely devoted and charismatic woman named Meena who believes in the power of women. She founded RAWA and dedicated her life to the cause. She was brutally murdered at the hands of the Taliban, and her legacy is remembered in Afghanistan in a way that that of no other woman has been remembered there before. Equality of the genders is also taken seriously in the fashion of true feminism. RAWA helps women get an education and feel that they have the power to solve pressing issues. Even though many Afghan organizations have historically left out women, RAWA didn’t feel that it would be fair to exclude men from their school systems and support organizations. More generally, the founding principles of the organization support the feminist cause because of their focus on education, equality, and female solidarity.

If using a lens of feminism helps define RAWA’s principles throughout the book, then using a lens of politics helps explain RAWA’s action plans. Afghanistan’s political situation has been unstable at best and horribly deleterious at worst during the time that RAWA has existed. RAWA members often offer very different political views from those professed in the United States, and have first-hand experience to back them up. Veiled Courage clearly connects the plights of specific women to the surrounding political events such as the Soviet invasion and American intervention in Afghanistan. Part of the reason that RAWA has been successful is because it uses techniques of the postmodern political era. The group is decentralized, with a charismatic but remote leader, and “the ideology is hybrid, a mixture containing elements from many different philosophical and political systems” (225). In contrast, governments such as those in both the United States and in Afghanistan are still in the modern political age, which keeps them from being as flexible or as adaptable.

Although feminism and politics were integral to RAWA’s movement, the trait that most defined and inspired its success was the persistence of its members in the face of adversity. Dedication and persistence are themes that appear in many different parts of the book. In a place where the Taliban forced women to wear burqas as a means of suppression, the women of RAWA used their veils to hide RAWA pamphlets, supplies, and most importantly cameras. They were able to document Taliban violence and post it on their website. The Taliban also did not allow girls or women to go to school. As a result, RAWA created schools for girls that taught reading, writing, math, and politics, all for free. The schools were often clandestine and very small, yet filled with dedicated students and teachers. The organization also opened some schools for boys, which resulted in many educated and dedicated male supporters of RAWA. By simply possessing a RAWA pamphlet or having a family member in the organization, a person would risk incarceration or death in Taliban controlled areas. The women of RAWA were incredibly courageous to stand so strong when they were in such a markedly dangerous situation.

To a Westerner used to relative stability, this conflict might seem impossibly far away. However, this book can change that in the short amount of time it takes to become engrossed in the text. One of the reason’s that the message of Benard’s book is so powerful is because it shows so clearly the women’s successes, failures, and bravery. I was able to connect with the women and stories not just as a fellow woman but simply as a human being, despite the fact that my life is so drastically different. I loved this book because it opened my eyes to a whole new set of complexities of life for women in Afghanistan. The author’s use of feminism and political ideology gave the story a strong connection to the outside world, while her descriptions of the dedication of individual women encouraged more personal connections. This strong, honest book could not have been written about a more deserving organization.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of a number of collected stories about different people's experiences with RAWA (Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan.) Obviously, these are brave women who deserve the support of the world community- they were resisting the Taliban before the rest of the world even knew what the Taliban was. What this book opened my eyes to the most though was Afghani men and their interactions with RAWA. Not all Afghani men (I don't think even most Afghani men) are fundamentalist extermeist. Many are also working toward the equal rights of women in their country. I learned not to judge the men of Afghanistan on only the basis of what I know about the Taliban.

[Björn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book doesn't really tell a story so much as it collects a survey of vignettes. The author literally collected questionnaires from RAWA members and added some of her own personal experience in order to cobble together the content.

The subject of the book is a women's organization forming and acting within a deeply repressive society. It's an inspiring organization and you get to see many aspects of it from the various stories in this book.

[Lanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book caught my eye because my husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan. It is a chilling account of RAWA and their efforts to educate Afghani women under Taliban rule. This book should be read in history classes everywhere and will make you re-evaluate your stance on Operation Enduring Freedom if you're not so sure we should have invaded.

[Angela Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for my womens studies class (not my major but a class for the required "multicultural requirement"). Surprizingly it was interesting, given my experience living in the middle east.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of the Revolutionary Assn of Women of Afghanistan: The woman's struggle against fundamentalism, both under the communists, the northern alliance and the Taliban, through the use of free literacy classes, health education, etc. Trying to improve the condition of Afghan women.

[elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quickly and understandably urgently written, but Benard always writes well. And Meena's story is heart-breaking, just as the story of RAWA is inspiring.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insight into the probably small feminist movement in Afghanistan.

[Anna]

I'm Pretty Sure I read this. It was definately on my list if I didn't. For several months my sister and I were reading every book we could find on Women in Islam. All of them very sad but inspiring.

[Weavre]

OST NON-FICTION ADULT STK 305.42 BEN

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written tribute to the women who fought and currently fight the Taliban in Afghanistan for their rights and the rights of future generations, a fight which unfortunately continues even as I write this review.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life of brave women revolutionaries in Iraq

[Beth MacDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit nervous to read a book about Afghan women written by a white American. However I appreciated that she included the voice of Afghan women through interviews and excerpts.

[Astrid Yrigollen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 2002 , this is a sanitized version of cruelty towards women in the middle east. Which in itself is not bad, one can only read so much heart crushing and gut wrenching true stories about people being treated less then an animal. This book brings to light how women in the middle east are no different than western women, as in they want to be happy and be able to get an education, not be beat or killed for showing their arms when it is sweltering outside.No woman wants their 12 year old son taken away to fight some war where the only winner is death.
A collection of experiences from RAWA members ( a women's underground network in the middle east that helps women get education) these women relate stories in almost emotionless voices. The writer herself seems oddly disconnected and void of emotion while making calls to activism. However, if you have ever read other books about the middle east, then you know this may be a type of barrier for emotional security that they may have to put in place for self preservation.

[Pamela Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

good. more of a who's who in RAWA/womens movement

[Suri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courage---If we want to know true courage, here is one story that will make us think about courage