With women all over the world facing discrimination and fighting for gender equality every day, it is still easy to become frustrated and feel like we have a long way to go. Lately, I have found myself struggling with a heavy heart when I think about the women of my country, Afghanistan, and all that they are facing right now in the midst of peace negotiations, insecurity and conflict. However, with International Women’s Day arriving, I realized that while we still have lots to accomplish, we have also come so incredibly far, and that is something we should truly be proud of. In honor of International Women's Day, I want to highlight the accomplishments of Afghan women athletes who have persisted, challenged traditional values and redefined gender roles by fearlessly playing sports.
Afghan women athletes are at the forefront fighting for gender equality in a patriarchal society where women who play sports are considered “trouble makers”. Due to this stereotypical thinking, women athletes are especially vulnerable to sexual harassment, intimidation and threats to their safety. This mindset has created an unsafe environment for women within the Afghan Olympic Committee and sports federations, which was brought to light this year by some of the Afghan Women’s National Team Players.
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