1) What is involved in a typical Afghani proposal/How do Afghani proposals differ from typical American proposals?
A: In an Afghani propsal, a woman in the male's family is responsible for conveying the proposal and making sure that the bride is a suitable wife. It is typical for an Afghani man to propose to a cousin or extended family member. A bride price is paid as an exchange for marriage and the price is calculated by age, beauty, skill, and the status of the bride's family. A girl does not choose to accept or decline, but rather her parents decide. In America, we see proposals that are usually romantic and not a long, drawn-out process like the Afghani proposals are. In the present day, American men do not usually ask a woman's family's permission first. The couple usually tells the family the news after the engagement. An American bride commonly has the freedom to accept or decline the proposal.
2) Why was the Taliban so strict on the censorship of books, what types of books were banned, and why?
A: In Afghanistan, the Taliban required a religious police force to burn all books that portrayed living things. As Islamic extremists, they thought that any book besides the Koran was unnecessary and viewed them as heresy. Although we are not completely sure why the Taliban was so strict on the censorship of books, it is assumed that the Taliban did so out of fear that people would develop their own ideas and rebel against the force. The Taliban wanted to force their extreme Islamic beliefs upon others and not give people the opportunity to develop other beliefs.
3) What are the punishments for females in Afghanistan who commit crimes and how do they differ from punishments for similar offenses committed in the United States?
A: Women in Afghanistan face severe punishment for crimes that might seem petty to us. Some of the "crimes" that Afghani women are punished brutally for are considered normal teenage behavior in the United States. For example, Saliqa is brutally beaten, almost to the point of death, for sending and receiving notes to a boy her age and then meeting up with him at a park to talk. The Afghani women recognize that Saliqa made a mistake but they do not think she committed a serious crime. In the United States, sending notes to a boy and meeting him to talk would be considered typical teenage behavior. Another example is when Jamila has an affair with another man and it is implied that she is killed afterwards. If a married woman in the United States had an affair with a man who was not her husband or boyfriend, the relationship would most likely end but fatal punishment would not be issued.
4) What is a woman's worth in Afghanistan?
A: In Afghanistan, women are viewed as a man's property. A woman is owned by either her father, brother, husband, or other male relative. She is measured of her worth by how capable she is in domestic life including cooking, cleaning, and being obedient. If an Afghani woman comes from a wealthy family, her worth is of higher value. Also, Afghani women are at a man's disposal. For example, when Sharifa ages, Sultan decides he wants a new and younger wife. Sharifa is then cast aside and lives alone with her daughter in Pakistan. She is expected to have a positive and accepting attitude towards the new marriage.
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