Women’s Names Added to ID Cards in Afghanistan

What type of information is included on your identification card?  In Afghanistan up until recently ID cards would include, along with other information, the names of fathers, yet not the mothers.  But in a surge of activism and a social media campaign titled #whereismyname, this is now changing.  This is an important achievement for women’s right in Afghanistan, and helps to normalize women’s role in the public sphere there.   

While it might not seem like a large issue, it is reflective of the larger stigma that women face in Afghanistan.  Women’s names are also often missing on tombstones, a further denial of their position in the family.  The stigma and taboo around women’s names can be so large that boys at school can get into fights even because someone names their mother or sister.   

This change also means that women will have more power and authority when it comes to handling public documents, including being recognized as the legal guardians of their own children.  Despite the fact that Afghanistan has seen large amounts of progress, including many girls attending school and women holding important jobs and positions in society, stigma and misogyny is still widespread.  The success of this campaign shows that while many barriers and challenges remain in Afghanistan towards equality, progress is being made.   

Read the full article here.