'Thousands of mixed hopes and fears': women graduates' access to employment in Afghanistan. (19th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Payne, Anne Maree; Burridge, Nina; Rahmani, Nasima
• Is Part Of: International journal of gender studies in developing societies. Volume 4:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2021-07-19
• Subjects: Afghan women graduates -- Afghan women's employment -- sex discrimination Afghanistan -- sexual harassment Afghanistan; Women in development -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Sex role -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Women -- Developing countries -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Women -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Gender identity -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 305.4091724
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-0352

Abstract

This article focuses on the employment experiences of women university graduates in Afghanistan. The 55 female graduates who were interviewed for this study reported widespread concerns about nepotism and corruption, limiting the pool of available positions for women; a high level of dissatisfaction with their current remuneration as well as pay equity issues; family constraints imposed on the types of work that were seen as suitable for women to undertake; and the impact of sexual harassment and sexist attitudes in the workplace. While calling for affirmative action and training and mentoring programs to expand opportunities for women's employment, overwhelmingly the female graduates in this study identified their higher education qualifications as a significant factor in their ability to gain paid employment, highlighting the ongoing importance of women's access to and participation in higher education in Afghanistan.