Dating+Issues+in+Afghanistan+-+Pratt

=Dating Issues in Afghanistan by Melissa Pratt=

Young Afghanistan's are angry and fighting against arranged marriage.
Dating in Afghanistan is different then in the United States. Boys and Girls are not only allowed to date, but they are not even allowed a chance to speak to each other. In Afghanistan, the parents pick who their children marry, this is also known as arranged marriage. Families use arranged marriage to get money, to block them from any ideas of "dating," and to get their kids out of the house.

Extreme poverty makes families do anything for money. Families will force their young daughters to marry men that are in their 40's, 50's, or even 60's. This is because older men are more desperate and wealthy.

New technology has made it easier for teens to date behind their parents and families back. They can flirt, talk, and plan secret dates through text messages. Its a more secretive way to communicate for Afghans.

Timeline: ([|www.pbs.org])

 * **February 2, 1919** - Amir Amanullah Khan claims the Kingdom of Afghanistan and begins to modernize Afghanistan. He establishes diplomatic relations with other nations and passes reforms expanding woman’s rights, education and freedom of the press.
 * **January 1, 1921** - Amunallah Khan’s wife, Queen Soraya, opens Afghanistan’s first school for girls in Kabul. During the early 1920s, she also starts a women’s hospital and a magazine called ERshad-E-Niswan (Guidance for Women).
 * **August 1, 1921** - Khan introduces the Family Code law, which bans child marriage and requires judicial permission for polygamy.
 * **April 9, 1923** - Afghanistan creates its first constitution, which abolishes slavery and forced labor, creates a legislature and guarantees secular education and equal rights for men and women.
 * **Oct. 1, 1924** - Khan grants women the right to choose their husbands, something previously decided by male relatives
 * **Oct. 1, 1978** - A decree from the PDPA-controlled government requires education for girls, abolishes walwar and sets the legal age for marriage at 16.
 * **May 15, 1988** - Soviet forces withdraw and Afghanistan falls into civil war between tribes and mujahideen.
 * **Sept. 1, 1996** - The Taliban comes to power. They institute a severe version of Shariah Law, requiring men to grow beards and women to fully veil themselves. Those who disobey are punished.
 * **Sept. 11, 2001** - Al Qaeda operatives linked to Bin Laden hijack planes and crash them into buildings in New York and Washington, D.C.
 * **March 31, 2009** - Karzai’s government passes the Shia Family Law, which requires women to ask permission to leave the home unless under urgent business and allows a man to have sexual relations with his wife even if she objects. After international backlash, Karzai says he’ll overturn the law if it’s found to contradict the constitution or Islamic law.

**Summary:**
Young Afghanistans are revolting against arranged marriage. They want to find "love" without the help of their parents. But in their society boy and girls just flirting with eachother could get you killed. Luckily, There is new technology like computers and phones. These new appliances help teens communicate with eachother in a more private way. They think dating is better, and puts them in more control of their life. Being forced into marriage, puts them in a state of mind of being trapped. This is rising the death rate of young girls.

**QUIZ:**
[|Dating in Afghanistan Quiz]