The Underground Girls of Kabul: in Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan
Jenny Nordberg · 2024
Banned in 1 country
About this book
An investigative journalist uncovers a hidden custom in Afghanistan that will transform your understanding of what it means to grow up as a girl. “An astonishingly clear picture of this resourceful, if imperfect, solution to the problem of girlhood in a society where women have few rights and overwhelming restrictions.”—The Boston Globe In Afghanistan, a culture ruled almost entirely by men, the birth of a son is cause for celebration and the arrival of a daughter is 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 New York Times, 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. The Underground Girls of Kabul is anchored by vivid characters who bring this remarkable story to life: Azita, a female parliamentarian who sees no other choice but to turn her fourth daughter Mehran into a boy; Zahra, the tomboy teenager who struggles with puberty and refuses her parents’ attempts to turn her back into a girl; Shukria, now a married mother of three after living for twenty years as a man; and Nader, who prays with Shahed, the undercover female police officer, as they both remain in male disguise as adults.
Censorship history
In 2024, "The Underground Girls of Kabul" was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States, primarily due to concerns over its political content and perceived immorality. The ban was initiated following complaints from parents and local advocacy groups, leading to school board votes that upheld the decision in multiple states. This reflects a growing trend of challenges against books that address sensitive social issues, particularly those related to gender and cultural practices.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | PoliticalMoral |
