The Washington Post published a photo series on a community of widows in Afghanistan. Once a woman is widowed in Afghanistan, it becomes difficult for her to function in the community. Not only does she struggle to provide for her family, as careers for women are not generally available or accepted, but she faces gossip and slander from other women.
Even a world away from us here, women manage to pick other women apart. What is it about us that chooses to tear down and criticize rather than encourage and build up?
In the US, this shows up in various scenarios. When girls hook up with guys we call them sluts, but when guys do the same thing they get a slap on the back. When guys are successful in business they get applauded for being leaders, but women are torn apart for sleeping their way to the top, or becoming men, or being bitchy. This isn't always the case, and there are plenty of exceptions, but it is prevalent.
Then, we look in Afghanistan, and the same attitudes exist. When women are widowed, other women worry they will try to steal their husbands. What makes us so catty and insecure? More importantly, how do we change this? How do we do what these widows have done, banding together to survive? Building and creating with each other's help rather than cutting people down when they succeed.
