Afghani Women Study At GRC

Green River College is known for its international student program and inclusive nature. Students come from all over the globe for education and opportunity, such as Zarlasht Behnawa and Salma Sharify, two students from Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan men and women are not considered to be equal. Women are usually less educated than men. They marry young, and have many babies and prefer boys over girls. Afghan women, in general, do not work outside the home. They must always wear a scarf covering their head that is tied firmly under the chin. Male and female roles are strongly defined and very different. The public opinion is that men are in the power, and the domestic duties are the responsibilities of women. Women take care of young children, cook for the household, and clean the house. These are cultural norms for Islam everywhere, and not just in the country of Afghanistan.

When living in the city, a man cannot stay at home during the day or help with the cooking or cleaning at all, because the cultural norm is that men work outside the home. Afghan men do not work at home; they do not cook and clean. Women can be employed if their close relatives permit them to. The high unemployment rates in Afghanistan have caused a feeling that employing women takes jobs from men.

While more women are becoming educated and are free to move about, families may not be willing to take a risk because it is still dangerous. Extremists still believe that if girls are visible outside the home, not doing their duties, they lose respect and risk dishonoring the family. Engaged or married women, even if they are young, often feel they cannot go outside by themselves.

The United States offers many opportunities that women do not have in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, women do not have any opportunity to go to school, drive, and go to the mosque.

Behnawa is a student from Kabul, Afghanistan. She is married and has two daughters. She has lived in the USA for almost ten years and is a student at Green River College.

Behnawa started English class in ESOL one and continued to ESOL six. Behnawa took a break from courses after discovering she was pregnant and when she returned, she tested on CASAS at ESOL four. For ten years, she has struggled in the ESOL classes. She has a goal after ESOL classes to take GED classes to get her high school diploma.

 After achieving he GED, Behnawa would like to study to become a lawyer, judge, or a professional clothing designer. Behnawa has sewing experience because she is a seamstress and was taught how to sew. 
Sharify, another student, has been living in the United States for four years. She is a married and has two children one son and one daughter. “When I came to the USA I felt like I was blind because I did not know any English,” Sharify said. Sharify started from the first level of ESOL class even though she was an educated and independent woman in Afghanistan. In the beginning, she was dependent on her husband because she did not know how to speak and solve problems. “I had this hope to complete my education out of my country, Afghanistan,” Sharify said.