sister-hood is an award-winning digital magazine spotlighting the diverse voices of women of Muslim heritage.
Pashtun culture insists upon a strict gender regime, separating women from men. Women are not permitted to compete with men, or even to speak with them. When women have to go out of their homes, for instance to the market,…
A woman in my neighbourhood told me about a horrifying event that shocked me; an event that happened to her cousin Rabia. Rabia’s parents’ financial conditions were not good. They earned little: it was insufficient for a comfortable life, but…
Sexual abuse is one of the main reasons why women are held back in the Pashtun regions. Most Pashtuns value their ‘honour’. They don’t want their social status to be threatened. This status is based on the respectability of the…
Divorce means the dissolution of marriage for a married couple. It’s a matter of course that in Pashtun culture, divorce is a stain which adheres to a woman’s reputation forever. But ‘halala’ is even worse than divorce. Halala transforms something…
Early marriage is harmful: physically and mentally. Girls are married under the ages of 16 and 18. At an age when they should be studying, they are doing dishes, washing clothes, scrubbing floors and caring for a husband, their children…
Women are always sacrificed for their family’s dignity. Sometimes a woman is sacrificed to end conflict. Sometimes a woman is killed to restore her family’s social position. And sometimes a woman is restricted to her family’s home after marriage. Moothra…
Pashtun women receive an inferior education and no share in a family’s inheritance. Marriage contracts do not entitle them to any money. Women must depend upon men. Men must do everything: a man provides all the shopping and household goods,…
There are no inheritance rights for women under Pashtun custom. They do not receive a share in their parent’s property. All of the property is divided between the sons. There is nothing for their daughters. Instead, they marry off their…
Women and girls are killed each year by members of their own family, often their fathers, brothers, uncles, husbands and cousins – and sometimes mothers and other female relatives. So-called ‘honour killings’ are usually premeditated murders intended to restore a…
Swara is the practice of giving your daughter or other female relative in marriage to an enemy in order to make peace and end feuds within and between families. It’s a historic part of Pashtun culture. Parveen‘s marriage took place…
sister-hood is a digital magazine and a series of live events. We create platforms for women of Muslim heritage to speak for themselves, rather than being spoken for or spoken about. sister-hood challenges stereotypes and promotes the fearless, progressive, creative voices of women of Muslim heritage.
sister-hood is currently on hiatus whilst we work on our relaunch. The site will still be available for your reading pleasure.
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