Melissa Stalowski: Discussion Leader 12/3/2010

1) How is Leila's work valued compared to the work that Sultan and her male relatives do?
A: Leila's work day starts at the break of dawn and ends late at night. Her work is primarily domestic and it is primarily her responsibility to manage Sultan's household. Her responsibilities include cleaning, cooking, and washing. Without the work that Leila does, Sultan's house would be a mess and people would not have good food to eat. However, Leila's work is not highly valued by her male relatives, who treat her poorly and can command her to do anything and she will need to comply. Although she has the longest work day of them all, Leila's work is considered petty when compared to the work her male relatives do. The males who bring home money for their families are considered as harder workers who have the harder jobs.

2) On page 167, the author writes: "The smell of dust never leaves the flat. She never gets rid of it, it has settled on her movements, her body, her thoughts." What can dust be a symbol of in Leila's life?
A: Leila carries around the unspoken burden that comes with being an Afghan woman, which can be represented by the dust. No matter how hard she tries to educate herself or to improve her situation, she will always be an Afghan woman. Her responsibility to her family will always remain, even if she tries to gain more opportunities for herself, because she is the youngest girl of the family. Similar to the dust that fills the household, the burden and limitations of being an Afghan woman will never go away for Leila.

3) What are the educational opportunities for women in Kabul, as presented in The Bookseller of Kabul?
A: When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, education for women was banned. Because many women were not accustomed to receiving a formal education during the rule of the Taliban, many did not seek education after the fall of the Taliban. Education for women is available in Afghanistan now, but the quality of the schools is questionable. Also, many classes are now co-ed and girls and boys are in the same classes, making it uncomfortable and looked down upon. When Leila goes to register for school, the classrooms are in run-down buildings with bullet holes through the walls. She is in a class with boys and is so uncomfortable that she cannot focus on her education and only wants to leave.

4) What is the role of religion in the educational system in Afghanistan? How does it differ from the role of religion in the educational system in the United States?
A: In the schools that we have seen so far in The Bookseller of Kabul, Islam has been a major part of the education children receive in the classroom. The teachings of Islam take up the majority of the lessons. When Fazil does not remember the answers to the questions his teacher asks about Islam, his hands are beaten with a ruler. Thus, Islam is a highly valued part of education in Afghanistan. In the United States, unless one attends a private school, religion is barely taught in the schools. It is possible that religion is not taught in the classrooms because the United States is so religiously diverse, as opposed to in Afghanistan, where Islam is the sole dominant religion.