A Secret Held by Only a Few
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KABUL, December 11 (IPS) – Shabnam, a 26-year-old law graduate, manages her life and work by disguising herself as a boy. In the middle of a crowded market with the clatter of street sellers and the smell of nearby restaurants, a small, nondescript shop blends into the chaos.Inside, rusty shelves line the walls, empty soda cans hanging on the wall add a touch of color, and an old table covered with a worn-out cloth sits in the corner. To most passersby, the shopkeeper looks like a young man.
Few realize that behind this disguise, a young woman is breathing between fear and hope.
“I never had a childhood”, says the 26-year-old Shabnam. “While other children played in the streets,I was opening the shop”.
“From the age of ten”, Shabnam continues, “I worked part-time alongside my father, and continued working part-time as I pursued my studies with his guidance”.
Her father, though, is now elderly and partially paralyzed, and she is the family’s only source of income. Her greatest wish, she says, is for her younger brother to grow and succeed.
[Image of a shopkeeper who presents as a boy tending to customers,one of the few ways she can safely earn a living under current restrictions. Credit: Learning Together.]
residents from the surrounding neighborhoods know her only as a polite young boy.
Every day, municipal officers collect taxes from shopkeepers, demanding payment whether they have made sales or not.This time,they even handed her a formal warning after the visit.
“Hey boy, pay your taxes!”, the tax collector shouted. “Grow your business. Get a small cart and sell in the street”.
“Whose shop is this, incidentally?”, he demands. Scared stiff, the frightened young “man” timidly replies, “It’s my father’s. He’s paralyzed and stays at home.”
“Rent out your shop and pay your taxes from the rent”, thunders the tax collector one more time.”every shop pays taxes. How much have you sold so far?”
“I’ve earned 75 Afghanis (0.93 Euros)”, says Shabnam.
“Come on, that’s not enough. Go get a small cart and work harder,sell vegetables and fruits! Do you understand?”
two neighboring shopkeepers,close friends of the young woman’s father,are very impressed by the girl’s
In Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan,A Young Woman Works in Disguise to Feed Her Family
Kabul,afghanistan – Shabnam,a young Afghan woman,disguises herself as a boy to work and provide for her family under the Taliban regime. This valiant act allows her to navigate the restrictions imposed on women, enabling her to earn a livelihood even in the face of immense hardship.
As the Taliban regained control in August 2021, women have faced severe limitations on their rights, including restrictions on education, employment, and freedom of movement.Many women have been forced to abandon their professions, leading to economic hardship for themselves and their families.
Shabnam operates a small shop in Kabul, selling household goods. Her disguise is crucial for her survival and the well-being of her loved ones. “A secret of my success is the little disguise that makes everyone think I am a sixteen-year-old boy,” she explains. However, this existence is fraught with anxiety. “But these days, I wake up mostly in fear because of taxes. Will I be able to open the shop today? What if the municipal officers come,take everything from me in one moment,and dump it in the street? What if I am unable to buy a small tray or give up my shop for rent? What will they do to me?”
Shabnam’s story is not unique. She believes her experience reflects the struggles of countless other Afghan women who are fighting for their basic needs and dignity. “My story could be the story of thousands of other women, who still fight for bread, for life, and for their dignity”, she reflects.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Shabnam remains determined to complete her law studies and fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer.
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