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Am Bacha Posh: A Journey Through the Heart of Afghanistan

Bill Grant

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Published in I Am A Bacha Posh: My Life As A Woman Living As A Man In Afghanistan

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When I was born, my mother named me Wazhma. But when I was two years old, my father decided that I would be a bacha posh, a girl who is raised as a boy. In Afghanistan, bacha poshes are often raised as boys to give their families an extra son, to help with work around the house, or to protect them from the dangers of being a woman.

For the first ten years of my life, I lived as a boy. I wore boy's clothes, played boy's games, and was treated like a boy by my family and community. But inside, I always knew that I was a girl. I longed to wear girl's clothes, to play with dolls, and to be treated like a girl.

When I was ten years old, my father decided that I would no longer be a bacha posh. He arranged for me to marry a man who was twice my age. I was terrified. I didn't want to marry a man I didn't love. I didn't want to give up my dream of becoming a doctor.

I Am a Bacha Posh: My Life as a Woman Living as a Man in Afghanistan

by Ukmina Manoori

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1328 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	81 pages

But I had no choice. I was a woman in Afghanistan, and women in Afghanistan have no choice.

I married the man my father chose for me, and I lived with him for three years. During those three years, I was beaten, raped, and threatened with death. I tried to run away several times, but I was always caught and brought back.

Finally, one day, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away from my husband's house and went to the police. I told them everything that had happened to me, and they arrested my husband.

I was free. But I was also alone. I had no family, no friends, and no money. I was all alone in the world.

I wandered the streets of Kabul for several months, trying to figure out what to do with my life. I was lost and alone, and I didn't know where to turn.

One day, I met a woman who worked for a non-profit organization that helps women in Afghanistan. She took me in and gave me a place to stay. She also helped me to find a job and to start school.

I am now a student at Kabul University, and I am studying to become a doctor. I am also a volunteer at the non-profit organization that helped me. I want to help other women in Afghanistan who have been through what I have been through.

I am a survivor. I am a bacha posh. And I am a woman.

Author's Note:

I wrote this book to share my story with the world. I want people to know what it is like to be a bacha posh in Afghanistan. I want people to know what it is like to be a woman in Afghanistan.

I hope that my story will inspire other women in Afghanistan to stand up for their rights. I hope that my story will help to change the way that the world views Afghanistan and its women.

Reviews:

"Am Bacha Posh is a powerful and moving memoir that sheds light on a hidden world. Wazhma's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the challenges facing women in Afghanistan." - Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner

"Wazhma's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. She is a survivor, and her story is an inspiration to us all." - Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

"Am Bacha Posh is a beautifully written and deeply moving memoir. Wazhma's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of education and the fight for women's rights." - Ann Patchett, author of Commonwealth

I Am a Bacha Posh: My Life as a Woman Living as a Man in Afghanistan

by Ukmina Manoori

4.2 out of 5