‘It’s like gradual death’: Afghan women academics struggle to cope with ban on education, employment

Picture this: you have spent decades building a career. You have a master’s degree. You have taught hundreds of students. You walk into work every morning with a sense of purpose. Then, almost overnight, the gates close. You are told you cannot come back. Not because of anything you did, but simply because you are a woman.

This is what happened to female academics across Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

We conducted interviews with 12 Afghan female academics via Telegram and WhatsApp, eight of whom were in Afghanistan and four of whom had recently left the country. Of those who were in Afghanistan, only one has since managed to leave – the rest remain there. What they told us was devastating.

When the Taliban first ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, women were barred from education and most forms of employment. After the US-led intervention, things slowly improved. Female participation in higher education in Afghanistan increased dramatically, expanding from 5,000 students in 2001 to over 100,000 in 2021. Women made up 28% of university students and 14% of academic staff. Progress was real, even if fragile. Then it was reversed almost entirely.

By December 2022, all universities had closed their doors to women. Girls’ education was banned beyond the...

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