Gender, Politics, and Art in Contemporary Afghanistan: Rethinking Western Feminist Narratives and the Agency of Women

TY - CONF

T1 - Gender, Politics, and Art in Contemporary Afghanistan

T2 - The 4th Paris Conference on Arts & Humanities

AU - Karami, Mahtab

AU - Gorrill, Helen

N1 - Conference code: 4th

PY - 2025/6/13

Y1 - 2025/6/13

N2 - August 2021 marks a pivotal moment in Afghan history, as the Taliban reclaimed control, enforcing a rigid interpretation of Sharia law that severely restricts individual freedoms, particularly for women. Two decades earlier, the United States justified its military intervention by citing the Taliban’s oppression — especially of women — while aiming to dismantle the group and promote democracy and gender equality. However, while Afghan society indeed struggles with deeply entrenched gender inequality, the U.S. intervention proved to be a problematic and ineffective solution, leading to prolonged conflict and instability. Despite the progress in women’s social contribution and freedom often highlighted in Western narratives, much of it was concentrated in urban centres like Kabul, while the majority of women in rural areas continued to face severe restrictions and limited social activities due to the culturally rooted traditions and tribal systems. This paper critiques white feminist theory, which often overlooks the complexities of cultural and political landscapes and examines how Afghan women have employed new forms of artistic expressions, including video and performance art as a particularly accessible and impactful form of resistance and agency. By analysing the intersection of gender, politics, and art from the 1970s to the present, it challenges Western-centric narratives of “liberation” and highlights Afghan women’s resilience and contributions to social change. Employing postcolonial feminist lens (Yegenoglu, 1998) and drawing on the practices of Afghan women artists, including Gazelle Samizay, Kubra Khademi, and Lida Abdul, the study foregrounds the voices of Afghan women, offering a more comprehensive understanding of their lived experiences and artistic agency in navigating systemic oppression.

AB - August 2021 marks a pivotal moment in Afghan history, as the Taliban reclaimed control, enforcing a rigid interpretation of Sharia law that severely restricts individual freedoms, particularly for women. Two decades earlier, the United States justified its military intervention by citing the Taliban’s oppression — especially of women — while aiming to dismantle the group and promote democracy and gender equality. However, while Afghan society indeed struggles with deeply entrenched gender inequality, the U.S. intervention proved to be a problematic and ineffective solution, leading to prolonged conflict and instability. Despite the progress in women’s social contribution and freedom often highlighted in Western narratives, much of it was concentrated in urban centres like Kabul, while the majority of women in rural areas continued to face severe restrictions and limited social activities due to the culturally rooted traditions and tribal systems. This paper critiques white feminist theory, which often overlooks the complexities of cultural and political landscapes and examines how Afghan women have employed new forms of artistic expressions, including video and performance art as a particularly accessible and impactful form of resistance and agency. By analysing the intersection of gender, politics, and art from the 1970s to the present, it challenges Western-centric narratives of “liberation” and highlights Afghan women’s resilience and contributions to social change. Employing postcolonial feminist lens (Yegenoglu, 1998) and drawing on the practices of Afghan women artists, including Gazelle Samizay, Kubra Khademi, and Lida Abdul, the study foregrounds the voices of Afghan women, offering a more comprehensive understanding of their lived experiences and artistic agency in navigating systemic oppression.

UR - https://pcah.iafor.org/pcah2025/

M3 - Abstract

SP - 156

EP - 156

Y2 - 10 June 2025 through 14 June 2025

ER -