The word “conservative” holds different meanings depending on the context. When it comes to a society and the way people live, conservative refers to a mindset or approach that prioritizes tradition, stability, and established norms over rapid change or progressive reform. It often emphasizes maintaining cultural, moral, and social values that have long been upheld. In conservative societies, practices related to family structures, gender roles, and social behavior tend to be more rigid, with a strong preference for continuity over modernization. As defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, conservative means “tending or inclined to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions.”
With this in mind, how many of us would argue the idea that even the United States—the so-called leader of the “Free World”—can be considered a conservative society? The U.S. has long upheld the values of capitalism and democracy, maintaining and promoting the right to own, compete, and trade freely. Likewise, many developed nations hold tightly to their traditions, democratic values, and foundational beliefs.
However, the meaning of conservative has drastically changed in the eyes of today’s youth. From the perspective of a teenager discovering themselves and the world, conservative often means an oppressed society. It evokes an image of a place where peace has turned its back, and where citizens have lost their smiles.
I myself come from one such conservative society—Afghanistan. But the conservatism of Afghanistan differs vastly from the standard definitions. In the Afghan context, conservative brings to mind two decades of war, millions of displaced civilians, and countless lives lost. It represents the dominance of male power and the obedience forced upon women. It evokes an imbalance—a scale tipped by deep-rooted traditions that have long silenced Afghan women and girls. In Afghanistan, conservatism extends far beyond a dictionary definition. It weaves together strict interpretations of Islam with decades of political conflict, power struggles, and foreign interventions that have shaped the country’s landscape.
One of the most harmful aspects of this conservative ideology is the misinterpretation of Islam, particularly in how it pertains to women’s rights. These misreadings have led to the false belief that men are superior to women—a notion that has fueled oppression and discrimination for decades. This ideology has resurfaced most severely during two major periods in recent history: in 1996 and again in 2021, both under the regime of the Taliban.
I was born in 2007 and thankfully did not witness the horrors of the Taliban’s first reign. However, in August 2021, history repeated itself. Twenty years of progress and hope crumbled overnight. Once again, the pillars of Afghan society—our women—were pushed into darkness and despair.
I was one of the fortunate few to escape the country just days after the Taliban returned to power—on August 21. My family and I lived under their rule for only six days, but those six days felt like six centuries. Every moment was filled with fear and hopelessness. Though the Taliban announced an “amnesty” for all citizens affiliated with the previous government, they soon began conducting house-to-house searches, supposedly to maintain order and prevent unrest. As a child, I would watch the Doha peace negotiations with my father, asking him whether peace was truly on the horizon. He would gently shake his head and say, “We must pray and hope that one day, peace will return.” Though his words offered comfort, I knew he feared the worst.
What makes conservatism so difficult to define is its fluidity. Is it a tool of dictatorship? A defense of tradition? A means to power? Or simply a way of life? These are questions I still struggle to answer.
In today’s Afghanistan, girls and women are banned from receiving education beyond the sixth grade. They are silenced—literally and figuratively—not even permitted to speak publicly or hear each other’s voices.
While in-person schooling is no longer an option for most Afghan girls, virtual programs and underground networks continue to provide educational opportunities. Unfortunately, many women in rural areas lack access to the internet, limiting their options even further.
In my view, there are two keys to reshaping Afghanistan’s future:
1. Unity — All Afghans, regardless of ethnicity or background, must come together and embrace empathy, mutual respect, and cooperation.
2. Education — We must educate our youth about both the world and our own history, broadening their minds instead of confining them to a single viewpoint. Only then can we foster a society where diversity and different ideas are valued.
In conservative societies like Afghanistan, education is sometimes seen as a Western threat and, in extreme cases, a sin. This belief is deeply rooted in cultural and religious ideologies. I have seen parents keep their sons and daughters from school, fearing that modern education strays from Islamic teachings. Many children are instead sent to madrasas (religious schools), where they receive limited exposure to broader worldviews.
I was fortunate to attend Marefat High School in Kabul, which stood for Awareness, Freedom, and Equality. Marefat empowered students to think critically and dream boldly. But even this beacon of hope came under attack by conservative extremists who threatened to burn the school and kill its founder. In conservative societies education threatens their rigid ideologies—it challenges the status quo, which many fear.
After the fall of Kabul, the world saw something remarkable: a wave of youth stepping forward to create change. From inside and outside the country, Afghan teenagers and young adults began organizing virtual and community-based programs to support their peers. These initiatives—whether led by activists, athletes, writers, or educators—offered a glimpse of hope. This tragic moment in history may have accelerated our generation’s awakening.
One powerful example of education’s impact in a conservative society is the movie Rule Breakers (2025), directed by Bill Guttentag. The film tells the inspiring true story of Roya Mahboob and Afghanistan’s first all-female robotics team. Their journey highlights the challenges of defying societal norms and the power of education to transform lives. From negotiating with a shop owner for access to a computer to convincing their families to let them participate, the girls in the film embody courage, creativity, and resilience.
What stood out most to me was the role of the male coach and the Indian supporter who believed in these girls. These men were pillars of support, embodying the kind of allyship Afghan women desperately need. Imagine if every Afghan man became like them—supportive, encouraging, empathetic, and educated. As we say in Persian, “Dunya golo golzar khahad shod – دنیا گل و گلزار خواھد شد, “meaning “The world would become a garden of flowers.”
I remember a friend of mine who taught herself English by secretly watching YouTube tutorials. She’d sneak in a lesson whenever she could. Today, she’s studying in high school in Massachusetts, proving that with enough determination, borders are no obstacle to learning.
Another close friend from my hometown earned a fully funded scholarship to study at a prestigious U.S. high school. Despite the challenges she faced growing up in Afghanistan, she now uses her education to create programs that empower Afghan girls by providing them with growth opportunities and leadership skills.
Education is a weapon against oppression, a pathway to empowerment, and a promise for a better future. In conservative societies like Afghanistan, where traditions often outweigh progress, education is the light that can break through centuries of darkness. As one of the volunteers at Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund (AGFAF) once told me, “We included Afghan males into our programs along with their female peers because we believe that both men and women have to be educated and their minds enlightened to have a society where women can thrive and succeed.”
Through initiatives like EmpowerHer, we aim to create a society where Afghan girls can rise, lead, and succeed. EmpowerHer’s mission is to support and empower Afghan girls by providing leadership training, educational resources, and opportunities for personal development. The fight for education is the fight for freedom. And if we want a peaceful, united, and flourishing Afghanistan, we must never stop believing in the power of learning.
Quotes to go with the article:
1. “I’m the daughter of a father who said yes, and it gave me wings” – Roya Mahboob, the leader of the all-female robotics team
2. “It’s hard to be from Afghanistan, and it’s hard to be a woman there, we’ll be strong” – Roya Mahboob
3. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
4. “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
5. “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” – Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir-Aggrey
Links to Organizations Mentioned:
1. https://agfaf.org/ – Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund (AGFAF) 2. EmpowerHer (https://www.empowerher-initiative.org/)
Link of The Movie Trailer (The RULE BREAKERS)