Customer Reviews

Women for Afghan Women: Shattering Myths and Claiming the Future

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

i was kind of surprised to find that the overall rating for this book is a 5 star rating.

i thoroughly applaud all the contributors in the book for their statements and facts on afghanistan. i also applaud w.a.w., which also has a site on the web for anyone wanting to help further or read more. they are doing an immense job of bringing people the truth about afghanistan, and helping those in need. alongside rawa they are one of the groups in the u.s. who is making a big difference in the perceptions and misperceptions people have about afghanistan and the severity of life that people face there, in pakistan as well, particularly the women.

the book was rather slow-moving for me as it was many small accounts of what is wrong, what was right, and how to help. because i am already well-informed and helping in certain ways, i found it to be repetitive information. the reason i would recommend this book, is because the group is wonderful and people should be aware of who they are and what they are doing, and 2nd- if you are NOT well-informed about islam, afghanistan, and the history or politics involved in creating the current situation, then this will enlighten you in a simple and easy way as to what these people have gone through good and bad, and the hopes people have for the future. it offers things we in the u.s. need to do and should do in terms of assistance and support. it lets you read opinions and facts through a variety of sources, rather than one authors opinion throughout the entire book.

For anyone who thinks Afghan women are a group of uneducated, oppressed, passive women, this book is a must read. Educated, thoughtful, and fiercely passionate Afghan women write in their own words what their struggles have been, and how they will overcome them.

I recently read this book and was most impressed by the honesty of many of the Afghan women, as well as the essays which clarified what the Q'uran says about women. As far as Islam goes, it is very important to make a distinction between theology and culture. Many of the things that that non-Muslims view as unacceptable (with respect to women)in the Muslim world are based on cultural practices not the Q'uran. Afghan women have been clear in this book in stating that although they want the support of women worldwide, that they must be the ones to determine the direction of the women's movement in Afghanistan. It is critical to the sucess of such a movement that it develop within a cultural and religious framework that is appropriate to them. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Kabul from 1977-79 and hold both Afghanistan and it's people close to my heart. We must support their efforts toward rebuilding their country, but remember, it is their country!
Caryn Giles Lawson

I bought this book and could not put it down! It is truly riveting, emotional, informative, and very empowering! I think it's wonderful that the author provided a forum for all points of view and experiences to be shared - it really is a diverse collection of voices and stories. And finally - an opportunity to hear directly from Afghan women and those committed to their causes! A MUST buy for anyone passionate about women's issues, international human rights, and humanity in general!

This collection is very needed since it bridges constituencies and perspective which are often pitted against each other but in the end are allcommitted to one thing - the self-determination of Afghan women. Great photo essay as well.

This book provides an excellent overview of the lives of Afghan women both in and outside of Afghanistan. It is an important book to read because it illustrates (from the perspective of several women from different backgrounds and experiences) the essential role of women in the future of Afghanistan. The political and social activism of these women as well as their strength and overall commitment to human rights, which MUST include women, is nothing short of exceptional! This book also speaks to the diversity of the Afghan people and the misconceptions of women and Islam as well as the corruption of the Muslim religion by fundamentalists and many Americans who easily point to Islam as "the problem" without looking at the larger complexities of U.S. Afghan relations and the role the U.S. government has played in helping to create the devastation of Afghanistan under the Taliban and other fundamentalist regimes such as the Northern Alliance. This book provides a unique glimpse into the work of women outside the structure of governments and the importance of international feminist networks for collective action to provide assistance, security, education, and political agency to women in Afghanistan. Other activist projects can also learn much from these tremendous women. I cannot stress how important it is to read this book because as the title pronounces, it shatters the myths regarding the plight of Afghan women and provides THEIR PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE! The women in this book need to be heard and understood, their voices are of paramount importance.

I read this book and found it boring at times and inconsistent in terms of how it flowed. I think the mix of Afghan womens stories and American activists stories being compiled in one book was a good idea. The book did not spark interest in me and didn't fully grasp my attention the way other books have or Afghan women that I have met in real life have. In my opinion it was poorly written:(

I've been devouring all books available about Afghan women ever since 9/11 when I became aware of the extent of their oppression and courage. This is an impressive anthology of different approaches to the complex issues that impact upon the fate of this population. The contributors are all knowledgeable and creative. I also recommend BEHIND THE BURQA by "Sulima" and "Hala" as told to Batya Swift Yasgur. I think these two are the best books on the subject. One discusses the issues, the other brings these issues to life by recounting the incredibly compelling story of two very special Afghan women. If you're only going to buy a couple of books on Afghan women, buy these.

I found this book a little difficult to read. I was expecting a powerful & gripping call to support these women. But instead got a dry read without continuity and just a statement of facts. Some folks may like that. But it wasn't for me. I still though support the cause and therefore 3 stars...

Well, you won't be seeing one of those in Kabul anytime soon (see childish review title, above). Which is, in a sense, one of the scant but meaningful advantages enjoyed by women in conservative societies, as the voices in this insightful book make abundantly clear. If 'liberation' means appearing on the cover of "Maxim" clad in a thin veneer of Silly String, many would think twice about buying into the modernity that we're peddling. This insightful book elicited a passel of new notions in me about the need for enlightened relativism when comparing modern and traditional societies. All of which were moderated abruptly when I shared them with my wife - who herself was recently 'liberated' from the beaches of Punta Del Este, where the garb of most Maxim girls would be dismissed as laughably prim. Her predictable response was to christen me 'Mullah Charles' and to withhold her affections from me for a week - a modern Lysistrada, albeit one without a Peloponnesian War to stop. My bumbling attempt at atonement - trying to assert my modernity by boorishly commenting that author Mehta looked "rather hot" in her inset photo - only proved to both of us that I have plenty to learn about women from my own hemisphere, never mind the other one.