The two decades of the Republic (2001–2021) marked a period of social and cultural awakening for Afghan women—years filled with new experiences, hard-won achievements, and significant challenges. From small classrooms on the outskirts of cities to media studios, from university halls to traditional craft workshops, women gradually moved from the margins to the center of public life, taking on new roles in shaping a shared sense of “collective life.” The following is a comprehensive and human-centered account of these roles, grounded in data, real-life examples, and lessons that may guide the future.
1. Women’s Role in Education
Expanding girls’ access to education was the single most powerful driver of cultural change. School enrollment across all grades rose from about 1 million students in 2001 to nearly 10 million in 2018, with girls making up 2.5 million in primary schools; by August 2021, girls accounted for nearly 40% of primary students. This leap was not only the result of state policies but also the persistent efforts of female teachers, mothers, and community councils.
In higher education, women’s participation rose from only a few thousand in the early 2000s to over 100,000 female students by around 2021, transforming academic discourse and professional networks.
The teaching workforce also changed: the share of female teachers increased from 28% in 2007 to 36% in 2018, though severe shortages persisted in remote areas, exacerbating cultural barriers to girls’ education.
2. Women in Media and Public Awareness
The 2000s and 2010s witnessed an unprecedented media boom, and women emerged as journalists, anchors, editors, and founders of women-focused media outlets. Although post-2021 saw hundreds of media houses shut down and female journalists almost wiped from screens, this sharp decline underscores the magnitude of earlier progress: before the collapse, over 540 media outlets were active, employing thousands, including large numbers of women.
International media watchdogs reported a 76% drop in female journalists shortly after 2021—a grim figure, yet one that testifies to women’s central role in the media ecosystem before the fall.
3. Cultural and Artistic Contributions
Female filmmakers, writers, poets, musicians, and visual artists helped redefine the narrative of the “Afghan woman.” From directors like Sahraa Karimi and Shahrbanoo Sadat gaining global recognition, to the creation of the first all-female orchestra Zohra, art became a second language for social action.
This cultural rise was not just about visibility; networks of small craft workshops, independent publishing houses, and local festivals created jobs and built intergenerational connections.
4. Advocacy for Women’s Rights and Gender Justice
From the mid-2000s onward, legal literacy among women and families expanded significantly. In 2009, the government enacted the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law, criminalizing 22 forms of violence—including forced marriage and child marriage—for the first time, though full and consistent enforcement remained elusive.
Afghanistan also became the first Islamic country to ratify CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) without reservations in 2003, a legal commitment that was supported by community-based educational initiatives translating these principles into simple language for families.
5. Preserving Language and Indigenous Cultures
Afghanistan’s cultural memory—from languages and dialects to rituals and intangible arts—has largely been safeguarded by women. Their participation in maintaining traditions like Yalda/Chilla and Nowruz, as well as in performing arts such as the rubab, which UNESCO listed as intangible heritage, illustrates the critical role of women in intergenerational cultural transmission.
Handicrafts—carpet weaving, embroidery, and traditional needlework—remained a backbone of household economies while preserving local designs and stories.
6. Engagement in Civil Society and Human Rights
Women’s civil society networks, from the Afghan Women’s Network to organizations providing legal aid and psychosocial support, strengthened grassroots education, documented rights violations, and influenced policy advocacy.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission—a product of the Bonn Agreement and enshrined in the Constitution—was a key institution for monitoring abuses and following up on cases until its dismantling in 2021.
Politically, the 2004 Constitution reserved at least 68 seats for women in the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House), though the quality of representation and institutional resilience fluctuated amid insecurity and corruption.
7. Economic Empowerment and Future-Building
Economic empowerment—from small-scale entrepreneurship to entry into services and education—enabled women to turn hope into tangible action. Despite cultural and security challenges, women’s labor force participation reached around 23% by 2019—a modest figure by regional standards but a marked improvement from the early 2000s.
In rural areas, participation was often higher due to compatibility with local livelihoods. Beyond income, economic engagement had profound social effects: shared family decision-making, reduced resistance to girls’ education, and the rise of local women’s support networks.
8. Emotional and Psychological Support in Times of Crisis
Decades of war and instability inflicted heavy mental health burdens, and women—as mothers, daughters, wives, and community actors—often became the first line of emotional support. Research indicated widespread symptoms of depression and PTSD among Afghan women, while UNICEF and partner agencies documented the expansion of community-based psychosocial services in the final years of the Republic.
The Shadow After 2021 and the Meaning of “Legacy”
The regime change in 2021 severely undermined many of these achievements: secondary and higher education for girls was suspended, sweeping employment bans were imposed, and women were systematically erased from public and media spaces.
These regressions are devastating, yet they amplify the significance of the “20-year legacy”—the social capital, informal networks, teaching and journalism experience, activism, and cultural memory that remain alive both inside Afghanistan and within the diaspora.
Key Lessons and Future Pathways
1. Sustained investment in girls’ education improves not just schooling metrics but overall quality of life and social resilience—provided the chain of female teachers, safe schools, and pathways to higher education remains unbroken.
2. Media and art build a common language for a fragmented society; supporting independent media and ensuring the safety of female journalists is integral to cultural security.
3. Legal frameworks and political quotas mean little without effective enforcement and accountability; the EVAW experience showed that laws are necessary but not sufficient.
4. Care economies and mental health must be recognized; women who provide emotional scaffolding for families also need specialized support.
5. Intangible heritage and handicrafts are not just traditions; they are socio-economic assets that sustain intergenerational bonds and cultural diversity.
This article aimed to present a holistic picture of women’s role in the social and cultural reconstruction of Afghanistan during the 20 years of the Republic—spanning education, media, rights, and the arts. The achievements were remarkable, and the challenges immense. Most importantly, what remains is a network of experience and hope—a living resource that, with any political opening, can breathe life again into the collective project of building a better future.
