Lessons of an Afghan girl disguised as a boy for ten years
Nilofar says the freedom and confidence of her ‘boyhood’ stayed with her and still define her as an Afghan woman today
Nilofar was living under the Taliban in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan. When she was four years old she was slapped to the ground for not wearing a headscarf. Her father’s response was drastic, he cut off her hair and said that from that day on Nilofar would be a boy. For ten years she had the freedom of her brothers, hanging out with friends, riding bikes, playing judo but when she hit puberty she had to learn to become a girl again. It wasn’t easy. With such a unique perspective on gender Nilofar was always destined to challenge the boundaries of Afghan society.
Presenter: Seyi Rhodes
Producers: Sarah Kendal and Andrea Kennedy
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Afghan girl walking outside her home during sunset. Credit: Aref Karimi / Stringer
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