Afghan Girl Forced to Work and Disguise as a Boy to Support Her Sisters

Social media users recently circulated a touching video showing an Afghan girl detained by the ruling Taliban, revealing the struggles of her life and the reason she disguised herself as a boy.

In the video, the girl explained that she had to work to provide for her family and support her sisters. She spent three years working at a café, starting with a salary of 7,000 Afghanis per month, which later increased to 10,000 Afghanis before she was arrested.

She said wearing boy’s clothing was not a luxury or choice, but a necessity to work and take responsibility for her family under extremely difficult circumstances. In the video, a man is heard asking her about her identity, residence, and family, highlighting the constant fear and pressure she lives under.

Women’s work rights in Afghanistan have faced widespread violations since the Taliban returned to Kabul in August 2021, with most female government employees dismissed, except for those in healthcare and some educational sectors.

The movement also imposed restrictions on women working in private institutions and international organizations and closed hundreds of beauty salons, leaving thousands of families in severe economic and social hardship and forcing young girls to make difficult choices to survive and support their families.