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A. Kinds of Gender Discrimination
crowd gathered in front of Malalai Hospital. A loud groan rose from the crowd.
But this is a womens hospital
a woman shouted behind Mariam. Cries of approval followed this.
Mariam shifted Aziza from one arm to the other. With her free arm, she supported Laila, who was moaning, and had her own
arm flung around Rasheeds neck. Not anymore, the Talib said.
My wife is having a baby a heavyset man yelled. Would you have her give birth here on the street, brother?
Mariam had heard the announcement, in January of that year, that men and women would be seen in different hospitals, that all
female staff would be discharged from Kabuls hospitals and sent to work in one central facility. No one had believed it, and the
Taliban hadnt enforced the policy. Until now. Laila
Marginalization from health facility
Go to Rabia Balkhi, the guard said.
A young woman pushed forward, said she had already been there. They had no clean water, she said, no oxygen, no
medications, no electricity. There is nothing there. 27939
Marginalization from health facility
You think I want it this way? she said. What do you want me to do? They wont give me what I need. I have no X ray
either, no suction, no oxygen, not even simple antibiotics. When NGOs offer money, the Taliban turn them away. Or
they funnel the money to the places that cater to men. But, Doctor sahib, isnt there something you can give her?
Mariam asked. ...
Tell me whats going on Laila said She had propped herself up 28339
134
A. Kinds of Gender Discrimination
B. Women’s Attitudes toward the Discrimination
1. Nana’s Acceptance towards Gender Discrimination
No. Category
Sub-Category Quotation
PageChapter 1.
Influencing factors
Experiencing Educational
deprivation Nana had been one of the housekeepers.
Until her belly began to swell.
When that happened, Nana said, the collective gasp of Jalils family sucked the air out of Herat. His in laws swore blood
would flow. The wives demanded that he throw her out. Nanas own father, who was a lowly stone carver in the nearby
village of Gul Daman, disowned her.
Disgraced, he packed his things and boarded a bus to Bran, never to be seen or heard from
again. 61
Experiencing educational
deprivation But Mariams favorite, other than Jalil of course, was Mullah
Faizullah, the elderly village Koran tutor, its akhund He came by once or twice a week from Gul Daman to teach Mariam
the five daily namaz prayers and tutor her in Koran recitation, just as he had taught Nana when shed been a
little girl.
It was Mullah Faizullah who had taught Mariam to read, who had patiently looked over her shoulder as her lips
15-163 on her elbows.
The doctor took a breath, then told Laila that the hospital had no anesthetic.
But if we delay, you will lose your baby. Then cut me open,
Laila said. She dropped back on the bed and drew up her knees. Cut me open and give me my baby.
Laila
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