Author: Shae Archambault
Published: May 26, 2016
The heart of Afghanistan's culture ultimately lies within its people and their day to day lives. From the importance of family to education and current technology, this page will aid you in learning the basics of daily life in Afghanistan.
Published: May 26, 2016
The heart of Afghanistan's culture ultimately lies within its people and their day to day lives. From the importance of family to education and current technology, this page will aid you in learning the basics of daily life in Afghanistan.
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Family LifeStructure
Family makes up the core of Afghan culture. Everything revolves around central and extended families whether it be social gatherings or even arranging marriages. A typical household in Afghanistan is composed of a mother, a father, an average of five children, and typically some to all members of the extended family. Within this household, strong bonds form between all members. Nepotism, or "brothers taking care of brothers" is the expected way of life in Afghanistan. People expect family member to always be there in a time of need. Families also play an important part in society. A family's name determines where they stand among others. If your family name is well-respected and has positive history behind it, it gives future offspring a stepping stone into higher society. With this great honor that come with family name, one must be careful not to damage the impeccable reputation their family has created. To bring shame to one's family will definitely come with punishments of its own whether it be getting cut off or, in severe example, exile or death. Roles in the Family Within Afghan families, respect is given to all members regardless of gender. Typically males are the head of the home with the responsibility of overseeing and providing for the family. They are the ones that make all final decisions for the family. Women are given the responsibility of maintaining the home. This is a highly respected position as well as being extremely crucial to the family. Even with the high amount of respect women receive, Afghan society is considered to be patriarchal, meaning mostly led by men. Due to this, if there is a teenage son in a family, his decisions can often overrule those of his mother. Values All Afghan families share the same core values: honor, responsibility, and knowledge. Fulfilling expected roles and bringing pride to themselves and their families is something all Afghans hope to accomplish within their lifetime. Not only does this define one's self, it also gives a certain character and reputation to their family. Due to this strong correlation between personal decisions and family status, it is important to understand that when conflicts arise, personal opinions are often thrown to the side in order to do whatever is best for the family. Many Afghans carry the responsibility of maintaining a pristine reputation and bringing honor to their family; even if that means making sacrifices. In addition to the responsibility of bringing glory to a family, they also value knowledge and staying level-minded. From an early age, children are taught to restrain showing emotion whether it be happiness or sadness. Afghans believe that this restraint is admirable and work to enforce it in their offspring. These values are what have kept many Afghan families alive through multiple wars and tough living conditions. The strong support system and deeply-rooted morals are a defining characteristic for the families of Afghanistan. |
EducationAfghanistan's education and schooling has changed throughout the years as it has seen multiple wars and the effects from it. As of right now, most Afghan schools are located in central, urban areas. There are approximately 16,000 schools throughout the country. The schools are similar to America as they run during the day and have one season off. In addition to these day schools, Afghanistan also madrasahs which are their main educational institute. A madrasah is "simply a place of study". They are especially important to those who live in rural areas and want a basic education.
The main subjects taught in Afghanistan resemble those of the ones in America; math, language, science, history, as well as the teachings of Islam. These schools don't teach extreme Islam beliefs however just the basics of the book. Many Afghan scholars and adults are educated using this system. Due to the years of war in Afghanistan, public education wasn't established until 1969. These schools are available for children ages 7-15. Even with the opening of these new schools, studies show that less than 10% of Afghans actually attend school and most remain illiterate. From the start, the schools lacked materials and even today are far behind typical school standards. Supplies are constantly running out and funding dries up within only a few years of a school being built. Many efforts are being made to provide proper education for the youth of Afghanistan yet attempts seem to fall short. |
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