Afghanistan Afghanistan has been in a constant state of chaos for twenty years. The Soviets invaded the country in 1979 and established a puppet regime. After withdrawing their troops in 1989, rival mujahideen (tribal) groups began fighting for the capital. When the Taliban entered the scene around 1994, the country was ravaged by war. Many Afghans had fled to neighboring countries such as Pakistan. An estimated 1 million lives were lost. Now, bad conditions still persist. Afghanistan has one of the worst literacy rates in the world; only 3% of women and less than 20% of men know how to read and write (Rashid, 107). A quarter of all children die before turning five. Life expectancy is only 43-44 years (107). Simply put, life is hard, especially for women. Women have been caught in the middle of powerful governments struggling for control. The question of their emancipation is not religious or cultural. It's political. To understand the women's struggle, we must consider their socioeconomic history, the qualities of the Taliban, and the reactions of outside groups to the fate of Afghan women. Afghan government leaders have consistently worked to reform women's rights. Over the last century, women's empowerment has been an essential part of the nation's image. Amir Habibullah, who ruled from 1901 to 1919, emphasized that women should have a role in society beyond motherhood (Dupree, 307). Mahmud Beg Tarzi (1865-1933), one of the leading reformers of the time, advocated for women's education. She believed that intellectual women in the home would lead to a stronger sense of family and nation. He constantly spoke about egalitarian Islam, which does not deny women the right to knowledge (Dupree, 306-307). ...... middle of paper ...... interferes presents the theories of cultural relativism and activism. The Taliban's repression of women furthers their goal. The West fights for women in the name of democracy and for their own success. And where does this leave women? They are trapped in a spinning ball that is thrown violently back and forth between opposing teams. Whatever they do to undermine that suppression, it persists. They are thrown, turned and shot in different directions in a battle to gain control. Whether universal human rights exist or not, they are stuck in a pressing void. Maybe one of these teams will realize that respect for the ball will fuel their success. When a partnership is finally established between the political powers and the female population of Afghanistan, women will be able to take concrete steps towards their freedom. Until then, they get caught bouncing helplessly.