Why Parents in Afghanistan Dress Their Girls as Boys: What is ‘Bacha Posh?’
Afghanistan's centuries-old Bacha Posh tradition allows some girls to live as boys and enjoy freedoms denied to women, highlighting deep gender inequality in the country.
Afghanistan is often described as one of the world's most patriarchal societies, where girls face many restrictions. Yet, there is a unique tradition called Bacha Posh, which means "dressed as a boy."
Under this tradition, some families raise a daughter as a son. The girl cuts her hair short, wears boys' clothes, is given a boy's name, and is treated as a boy by her family and community.
Families usually do this because sons are expected to earn money, carry the family name, and support their parents. Families without sons often face social pressure and criticism. In some cases, poverty forces parents to make one of their daughters a Bacha Posh.
As a Bacha Posh, a girl can enjoy freedoms that many Afghan girls do not have—she can go out alone, play sports, attend school, and even work to support her family.
One such girl is Sanam. After her father lost his job and the family fell into poverty, her parents made her a Bacha Posh so she could work and help the family survive. She later said that she preferred life as a boy because of the freedom it gave her.
However, this freedom usually ends at puberty. The girl is expected to return to life as a girl, wear traditional clothes, and follow the restrictions placed on women. For many, this transition is painful and confusing.
The tradition of Bacha Posh offers some girls opportunities and independence, but it also highlights a troubling reality: in some societies, a girl must pretend to be a boy to enjoy freedoms that boys receive automatically.
