CONTEEEXXTT!!! Flashcards
(9 cards)
- Double Standards Between Genders
In traditional Afghan society:
Women’s value is often tied to their honour (izzat), modesty, and obedience.
Men’s behaviour, however, is judged much more leniently.
A man can make mistakes (even major ones) without being permanently “dishonoured” — but for a woman, one mistake can ruin her reputation forever.
💬 In the novel:
Soraya’s story — she lived briefly with a man outside marriage. Despite later redeeming herself, her “shame” follows her forever.
Amir, meanwhile, carries heavy guilt for betraying Hassan but is not socially shamed in the same way Soraya is.
Baba commits the grave sin of sleeping with Ali’s wife, but society sees him as a “great man” because of his public charity work and wealth.
KEY POINTS OF DOUBLE STANDARDS BETWEEN GENDERS
Hosseini shows that women are judged more harshly than men for similar or even smaller transgressions.
He criticizes the hypocrisy and rigid gender expectations in Afghan culture.
- Patriarchy in Afghan Society
Patriarchy = men control most aspects of life: politics, family, religion, inheritance.
In Afghanistan:
Fathers control families: They arrange marriages, control daughters’ futures, make important decisions.
Women have little voice outside the private home (and often even within it).
Public life (jobs, politics, education) was traditionally almost exclusively male-dominated.
Sons seeked thier father approval as validation - it is a norm in Afghnaistan.
💬 In the novel:
General Taheri dictates Soraya’s choices, even after they move to America. He wants her to behave “properly” to protect family honour.
Baba’s authority is absolute — he controls Amir’s upbringing and expects total respect.
Women like Sanaubar (Hassan’s mother) are judged harshly for leaving their families, whereas men like Baba can hide major sins without losing their public honour.
KEY POINTS OF PATRIARCHY OF AFGHAN SOCIETY
Hosseini presents patriarchy as harmful for both genders:
Men are pressured to act strong, emotionally distant (hurting relationships).
Women are silenced and blamed for things beyond their control.
- Genocide Against the Hazaras
Ethnic tensions in Afghanistan:
Hazaras = a minority group, mostly Shia Muslims, historically discriminated against by the dominant Pashtun Sunni population.
19th century: Amir Abdur Rahman Khan launched massacres and forced labour of the Hazara people — this is real history.
Hazaras were considered “inferior”, treated like servants or slaves in many Pashtun households.
💬 In the novel:
Ali and Hassan are Hazaras, treated with affection personally but with deep-rooted social prejudice.
Assef proudly says Hazaras are “polluting” Afghanistan and justifies violence against them.
The Taliban (mostly Pashtun) committed massacres of Hazaras during their rule — including mass killings in places like Mazar-i-Sharif (1998).
KEY POINTS ON THE GENOCIDE OF HAZARAS
The treatment of Hassan and Sohrab reflects the real-life systemic racism and near-genocidal violence that Hazara communities faced.
Hosseini exposes ethnic hatred and shows how personal betrayal mirrors national betrayal.
📚 Politics in Afghanistan
Flashcard 1
Q: What was Afghanistan like in the early 1970s according to The Kite Runner?
Flashcard 2
Q: What political change occurred in 1973 in Afghanistan?
Flashcard 3
Q: What led to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979?
Flashcard 4
Q: Who were the mujahideen and who supported them?
Flashcard 5
Q: What group took over Kabul in 1996 and controlled most of Afghanistan by 1998?
Flashcard 6
Q: What were some of the Taliban’s restrictions?
Flashcard 7
Q: Why did the U.S. invade Afghanistan in 2001?
Flashcard 8
Q: What happened in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s fall in 2002?
📚 Politics in Afghanistan
Flashcard 1
A: Stable and prosperous, with peaceful scenes in Kabul such as kite-flying, tea drinking, and family gatherings.
Flashcard 2
A: King Zahir Shah was overthrown in a coup by Daoud Khan and the communist PDPA.
Flashcard 3
A: The PDPA’s anti-religious rule caused rebellion; the Soviets invaded to support the communist government.
Flashcard 4
A: Anti-Soviet resistance fighters supported by the U.S. and Pakistan.
Flashcard 5
A: The Taliban.
Flashcard 6
A: Banned women’s education and work, required full-body veils, banned kite flying, gambling, and forced beards on men.
Flashcard 7
A: The Taliban sheltered al-Qaeda, who carried out the 9/11 attacks.
Flashcard 8
A: Cities were freed, but insurgents including the Taliban continued fighting for control.
🕌 Religion in Afghanistan
Flashcard 9
Q: What is the dominant religion in Afghanistan?
Flashcard 10
Q: What are the two main branches of Islam?
Flashcard 11
Q: How do Sunni and Shia Muslims differ in belief about leadership?
🕌 Religion in Afghanistan
Flashcard 9
A: Islam.
Flashcard 10
A: Sunni and Shia.
Flashcard 11
A: Sunnis believe any qualified Muslim can lead; Shias believe only descendants of Muhammad can be leaders.
🧬 Ethnicity in Afghanistan
Flashcard 12
Q: Who are the two primary ethnic groups in The Kite Runner?
Flashcard 13
Q: What religion do most Pashtuns and Hazaras follow?
Flashcard 14
Q: What is a major reason for discrimination against Hazaras?
Flashcard 15
Q: How does The Kite Runner show ethnic tension?
Flashcard 16
Q: How are Hazara children’s lives limited from birth, as described in The Kite Runner?
Flashcard 17
Q: Where do most Pashtuns and Hazaras live?
🧬 Ethnicity in Afghanistan
Flashcard 12
A: Pashtuns and Hazaras.
Flashcard 13
A: Pashtuns are Sunni; Hazaras are mostly Shia.
Flashcard 14
A: Their minority status, religion (Shia), Asian features, and historical lower caste position.
Flashcard 15
A: Hassan and Ali, Hazaras, are servants; Assef calls Hazaras inhuman; the Taliban kill Hassan and enslave his son.
Flashcard 16
A: They are expected to be illiterate and work as servants.
Flashcard 17
A: Pashtuns in the south; Hazaras in the central mountains.
