Afghanistan’s ‘Bacha Posh’: Girls Disguised as Boys Under Taliban Rule

The practice of girls disguising themselves as boys in Afghanistan, known as bacha posh, is not latest. But recent video released by the Taliban – showing interrogations of young people, including girls presenting as male – has brought renewed attention to this centuries-classic tradition and its evolving relevance under the current regime. The videos, circulated in early February, underscore the precarious situation for women and girls in Afghanistan, where restrictions imposed by the Taliban have severely limited their access to education, employment, and public life.

For generations, Afghan families have sometimes chosen to raise a daughter as a son, particularly when there are no male heirs. Historically, this might have been to provide protection or to allow a girl to participate in activities traditionally reserved for boys. Today, however, the motivations are increasingly tied to survival. With women largely barred from working and facing significant restrictions on their movement, dressing as a boy can offer a girl the opportunity to earn an income and navigate public spaces with relative safety. The United Nations estimates that nearly 85 percent of all Afghans are struggling to survive, adding to the desperation driving this practice.

An Ancient Custom in a New Context

The term bacha posh, literally translating to “dressing like a boy,” has been documented for centuries in Afghanistan’s patriarchal society. The practice gained wider international attention through works like the 2003 film Osama, the 2018 animated film The Breadwinner, produced by Angelina Jolie, and the 2014 book The Underground Girls of Kabul. While historically, motivations might have included a desire for military participation, the current context is markedly different. Under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, women are largely confined to the domestic sphere, creating a desperate need for female-presenting individuals to contribute to household income.

Sahar Fetrat, a researcher with the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, explains that the Taliban’s policies are driving the practice. “Under the Taliban’s vision of a society built on total female subordination, women are banned from most forms of employment and confined to homes and excluded from public life,” she says. She believes the practice of bacha poshi is likely increasing. It’s difficult to determine precisely how many girls are currently living as boys in Afghanistan, but anecdotal evidence suggests It’s a common occurrence. One mental health worker in western Afghanistan, who requested anonymity and identified herself only as NT, reports frequently encountering clients who are dressing their daughters as boys to enable them to work and support their families.

Navigating Restrictions and Risks

The benefits of adopting a male persona extend beyond economic necessity. The Taliban’s Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue has intermittently enforced rules requiring women to be accompanied by a male guardian – even a boy – when in public. A bacha posh can therefore serve as that guardian, allowing female relatives to move more freely. As NT, the mental health counselor, explains, a girl disguised as a boy “can move around more freely and run errands…without coming under the Taliban scrutiny.”

One of NT’s clients, a 16-year-old girl named Omid, has been living as a boy since the age of three. With six sisters and one brother, her mother made the decision to present her as male after her father’s death, seeking to provide the family with the social status and economic opportunities associated with having a son. This practice isn’t solely about practicality; in Afghan culture, sons are traditionally valued, and families without them may feel social pressure to present a daughter as a son.

However, the practice is not without its psychological toll. While some bacha posh experience a degree of freedom unavailable to girls, the transition back to a female identity at puberty can be deeply traumatic. The counselor notes that some girls are “unable to conform to the feminine traits and behaviors required by conservative society,” leading to psychological distress. Girls living as boys are similarly exposed to the risks faced by boys in Afghanistan, including potential abuse and exploitation. Fetrat of Human Rights Watch emphasizes that bacha posh “face abuses, including sexual abuses outside the home, child labor, severe psychological, physical and identity-related harms.”

The Broader Implications for Afghan Women

The resurgence of bacha poshi is a stark illustration of the desperate measures Afghan women and girls are taking to survive under Taliban rule. The Taliban stated that the video released in February was filmed four years ago, but the timing of its release remains unclear. Regardless, it highlights the ongoing challenges faced by women and girls in Afghanistan, who are systematically denied their rights and opportunities. The practice underscores the complex interplay between cultural traditions, economic necessity, and political oppression.

The situation is further complicated by the lack of support services for girls transitioning back to a female identity. The counselor notes that Omid, her client, is now being asked to relinquish her male persona, a process that is proving difficult. The lack of mental health resources and social support exacerbates the trauma experienced by these girls.

the prevalence of bacha poshi is a symptom of a much larger problem: the systematic oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan. Fetrat concludes that there are no straightforward choices for women and girls in the country, stating, “The Taliban’s misogynist structure systematically treats women and girls as inferior. Yet when women and girls are left with no choice but to attempt dressing as males, just to survive, they are met with punishment.”

The international community continues to monitor the situation in Afghanistan, but meaningful change requires a fundamental shift in the Taliban’s policies and a commitment to upholding the rights of all Afghan citizens. The future for girls like Omid remains uncertain, but their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness of Afghan women in the face of adversity.