First published 2014
In a society that values sons over daughters, some Afghan families have a surprising solution: raising their girls as boys. "The Underground Girls of Kabul" unveils this secret tradition, following the experiences of several young women who live as "bacha posh" - biological girls passing as male. As they navigate the dangers and constraints of this risky masquerade, their stories reveal the complex ties between gender, identity, and survival in a patriarchal culture. A gripping account of resilience in the face of oppression.
Genres: gender-studies, social-issues, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, resilience-in-the-face-of-oppression
Setting: Afghanistan
Period: 21st-century
350 pages · Hardcover · Crown