For the women of Afghanistan, remarkable milestones have been achieved since the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban rule in 2001. The gender order has gone through several changes in just a few years, and those changes have brought a wealth of new opportunities and roles for women living and working in Afghanistan. Whereas Afghan women had been largely confined to their homes and prohibited from actively participating in society under the Taliban, these women are now re-entering the workforce, and are employed in education, government, private businesses, or working their own farmland alongside their husbands.

This book examines the roles of women in Afghanistan within the context of change and tradition. It describes and analyzes the success of women in the workforce, and evaluates how success has come in a nation that struggles to overcome years of poverty, corruption, regional power struggles, and the overwhelming destruction of war. The book also covers the unique health challenges faced by women and families living in Afghanistan, focusing on recent developments in maternal and reproductive health care, the lingering problems associated with chronic or transient food shortages, and the improved availability of local emergency services and basic health care. Finally, the work evaluates the impact of the 2005 resurgence of the Taliban on women and girls.