Fieldnotes on Humanity

In the midst of the ongoing violence against women in Afghanistan by the Taliban, an article by Ali Abdi, a Ph.D. candidate in Anthropology at Yale University, offers insight into the complex issues of gender and sexuality in the country. Entitled " The Afghan Bachah and its Discontents: An Introductory History ," the piece delves into the historical, social, political, and cultural factors that have shaped and continue to shape the practice of " bacha bazi ," or the exploitation of young boys for entertainment, sexual pleasure, or aesthetic matters, as the author explains. Despite the abhorrent nature of the practice, little research has been done on the topic. Abdi's article breaks new ground in its in-depth examination of the various dimensions of bachah bazi and its place in a larger historical context through an anthropological lens. The issues it raises are particularly relevant in the current climate, where women are once again being banned from education...