AFGHAN WOMEN'S CONDITION AS PORTRAYED IN "A SPLENDID SUNS," KHALID HOSSEINIS NOVEL

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the challenges faced by Afghan women as depicted by writer Khaled Hosseini in his novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. The artwork highlights the pervasive sexist problems in Afghan society. Afghan women live in a sociocultural framework characterized by a robust patriarchal system, in which the prevalent norms of patriotically and patrilineal impose significant constraints on them, ostensibly upheld by religious and cultural precepts such as Pushtunwali. The book presents Afghan women as commodities and objects of desire. Legislative efforts by successive Afghan administrations to promote women's independence have been impeded by men. Because of their dominating nature, males misuse their authority over women by robbing them of their rightful rights. To maintain the existing social order, they apply stringent regulations, frequently referred to as Sharia norms. According to the present report, healthcare and educational institutions designated exclusively for women have been set on fire, young girls have been forced into marriages against their choice, and Afghan women have either been killed or severely beaten. Throughout history, males have continuously abused and taken advantage of women. The research claims that Afghanistan has a deeply embedded sexist society as well, and the country's continual conflicts make matters worse for Afghan women.