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Zarin Hamid (Afghan Women’s Network – AWN): Zarin was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her family then moved to New Delhi, with many other Afghan refugees, before moving to New Jersey. Zarin earned a degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies at Douglass College, Rutgers University, where she worked as a program assistant at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Zarin also worked with the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), helped in community voter registration, and volunteered at soup kitchens in New Brunswick, NJ and Asbury Park, NJ. Prior to taking up her AP fellowship, Zarin completed her Master's degree at the School of International Service, American University.

21 Jul

I think in general (and sorry for the generalization), people here feel threatened when non-related males speak to or engage in any manner women in public. I am aware it is not about a lack of education or over zealousness of faith either. Many things I see as part of Afghan culture for example are in actuality antithesis of Islamic ideas and ideals. The absurdity of how much women protect themselves or are protected by men from outside eyes is also when I realize how American I am in this milieu and how the Afghan culture of the diaspora is a hybrid product of America (or Europe, Australia, etc.) and the Afghanistan many left behind 30-20 years ago.

Posted By Zarin Hamid

Posted Jul 21st, 2010

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