Women’s mobility is limited
the condition of polygamy, which has been arranged in the country‟s law. According to Article 77 of Civil Code of Afghanistan Women and Children
Legal Research Foundation, 2006:20, the contentment of the couple is one of the basic conditions for the arrangement of marriage. If one of the couple shows
unwillingness, the marriage is considered void. Thus, before doing polygamy, a man should get approval from his preceding wife first.
We need to legitimize this situation, he said now, balancing the ashtray
on his belly. His lips scrunched up in a playful pucker. People will talk. It looks dishonorable, an unmarried young woman living here. Its bad for
my reputation. And hers. And yours, I might add.
Eighteen years, Mariam said. And I never asked you for a thing. Not one thing. Im asking now.
... I...I dont want this,
Mariam said, numb with contempt and helplessness.
Its not your decision. Its hers and mine. Hosseiini, 2008:208
According to the quotation above, from the first time, Rasheed has violated Mariam‟s right as a woman and as a wife. Mariam firmly refuses Jalil‟s plan, but
her refusal does not change anything because Rasheed considers her opinion unimportant. Rasheed insists that it is inappropriate for him to live with a woman
in one roof without marriage bond. That time, after a bomb falls above Laila‟s house and kills her parents, Jalil and Mariam take care of her in their house.
After marrying Laila, Rasheed treats Mariam and Laila unfairly. Despite Mariam‟s adherence and dedication to him, he often insults her while Laila
always gets his praise. Mariam is often insulted for being a harami or bastard and a dehati or village girl. In other occasion, Rasheed praises Laila as a malika or
queen in their house. When he does it, he does not think of Mariam‟s feeling as her wife too. He also compares them to cars, Mariam to a Volga and Laila to a
new, first class, shiny Benz. Foolishly, he states that it is different to drive a Volga and a Benz. Below is the quotation.
All I ask in return, well, it is a simple thing. I ask that you avoid leaving this house without my company. Thats all. Simple, no? If I am away and you
need something urgently, I mean absolutely need it and it cannot wait for me, then you can send Mariam and she will go out and get it for you.
Youve noticed a discrepancy, surely. Well, one does not drive a Volga and a Benz in the same manner. That would be foolish, wouldnt it?
Oh, I also ask that when we are out together, that you wear a burqa. For your own
protection, naturally. It is best. So many lewd men in this town now. Such vile intentions, so eager to dishonor even a married woman. So. Thats all.
Hosseini, 2008:217
Comparing Mariam and Laila to Volga and Benz obviously shows that Rasheed treats them unfairly. Moreover, he asserts the difference of driving Volga and
Benz. He tells Laila to send Mariam to go out when she needs something. Rasheed also charges Mariam with all domestic works and orders Laila to do
nothing. Even though in practice Mariam and Laila share the housework together, Rasheed‟s order shows injustice in polygamy.
The fact that Laila is younger and more beautiful than Mariam makes Mariam‟s position as a wife is shifted. Moreover, Mariam‟s failure to grant
Rasheed a child places her as a useless, valueless wife in Rasheed‟s eyes. Due to Mariam‟s lack, Rasheed neglects her and gives privilege to Laila. He makes
Mariam a servant of Laila instead of giving them a fair treatment. Rasheed‟s
disability to treat Mariam and Laila fairly has made his polygamy become an institution of gender discrimination, with Mariam as the victim.