We Are Afghan Women: Voices of Hope - Softcover

"For over a decade, Laura Bush has been an ally and advocate for the women of Afghanistan and, in particular, has worked to ensure that the voices of Afghan women are heard. In this book, she shares inspiring stories that not only capture the suffering of Afghan women, but also show their tremendous courage and resilience and the contribution they are making to build a better future for Afghanistan."--Hillary Rodham Clinton

"The education and empowerment of women within a society is a sign of a progressive civilization. In 2001, Afghan women were isolated and treated as second-class citizens. Though they still fight for rights and equality, they have come a long way. the stories in We Are Afghan Women teach that women can fight poverty and inequality with courage, hope, and perseverance. These women are inspiring and their lessons should move us all to stand up for those whose voices may not be heard."--Condoleezza Rice

"An incredible portrait of the Afghan women working to create a better future for their communities and future generations. Their stories of strength and resilience can inspire us all to reach for a more equal and peaceful world."--Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org

"Intimate and well-rounded....This book opens cultural doors and supplies insights that connect one world to another, offering readers of political and social literature a new lens through which to view a place and culture different from their own. Each contributor has a distinct voice, adding to the book's authenticity and delivering a truly human glimpse into the lives of unknown people. This well-curated and well-written compilation of inspiring and informative personal narratives will prove both enlightening and entertaining for many readers."--Library Journal

"Underscores the great advances made in women's lives....A galvanizing collection of a traumatized population learning to believe in itself."--Kirkus

“Inspiring stories that not only capture the suffering of Afghan women, but also show their tremendous courage and resilience and the contribution they are making to build a better future for Afghanistan” (Hillary Rodham Clinton).

Told in their own voices, the moving, courageous, and personal stories in We Are Afghan Women vividly describe a country that is one of the most dangerous places to be a young girl or pregnant woman; a country undone by decades of war and now struggling to build a lasting peace; a country where women have defied the odds. Women like Dr. Sakena Yacobi, who ran underground schools for girls until the Taliban fell, after which she established schools across Afghanistan to teach women to read and to educate and prepare girls to become teachers, doctors, lawyers, business owners, and politicians, and Masooma Jafari, who started a national midwives association, after her own mother was forced into marriage when she was twelve years old and gave birth to her first child at thirteen.

“An incredible portrait of the Afghan women working to create a better future for their communities and future generations. Their stories of strength and resilience can inspire us all to reach for a more equal and peaceful world” (Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org) and remind us of the dangers of tactics that target women in order to limit their roles in society and in government. Fifteen thousand women are now enrolled in Afghanistan’s universities, but girls continue to face violence for pursuing an education. The realities of life in this part of the world, one of the most dangerous places to be a child or pregnant woman, are tough, but this unique book celebrates the lives of women who have defied the odds. Their eloquent words challenge all of us to answer: What does it truly mean to be a woman in the twenty-first century?