Book: Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan

By Jenny Nordberg. Paperback, 365 pages, published 2015. Notes, Sources, and a Reader's Guide in the back. Excellent used condition. Minor cosmetic wear on the cover (see pics) but otherwise like new. "In Afghanistan, a culture ruled almost entirely by men, the birth of a son is cause for celebration and the arrival of a daughter often mourned as misfortune. A bacha posh (literally translated from Dari as “dressed up like a boy”) is a third kind of child—a girl temporarily raised as a boy and presented as such to the outside world. Jenny Nordberg, the reporter who broke the story of this phenomenon for the NYTimes, constructs a powerful and moving account of those secretly living on the other side of a deeply segregated society where women have almost no rights and little freedom. This narrative is anchored by vivid characters who bring this remarkable story to life." "The girls portrayed here are not resisting with weapons or spying: they are simply living their lives as boys. Reasons are varied. The family needs help in a store. Women need a "male" to accompany them on errands. Many girls see their "boy" status as a type of magic—by showing that the family is ready for a boy, a real male child may arrive. Often members of the community know, but accept the gender switch and go along with the ruse...." I'd never heard of this practice until I saw this book on a shelf. I find it fascinating, heartbreaking, hopeful--and so relevant to current struggles in the U.S. 🌈 🔥 💖