Why are raised as boys in Afghanistan, some girls

• Why are raised as boys in Afghanistan, some of the girls

Afghanistan - a country where born a woman means to be deeply unhappy and doomed to a hard life. To give a chance to their daughters a happy future, many parents resort to "bacha posh 'practice. They educate girls as if they were born boys. That's just instead of the happy future of "bacha posh" face a variety of problems.

In the edition of National Geographic recently published stories of several families from Afghanistan, which have raised "bacha posh". In one of these families have grown girls Setar and Ali. Their childhood was brought up as boys: dressed in men's clothes, allow yourself to go out, go out with the boys, attend school and sports clubs (all girls forbidden).

In Afghanistan, the patriarchal structure so robust, and dependence on men - so obvious that many parents when you see the light girl face a choice: whether to raise it like a man? Men can make money, build a family, to take care of aging parents. Couples dream of having an heir, but the birth of his daughter may even be considered a failure. There is even a belief that if the newborn daughter started educate, as a boy, the woman following pregnancy will certainly give birth to a boy.

Secret practice of "bacha posh" documented journalist Jenny Nordberg, to become better acquainted with these girls ventured journalist Lawley d`Aki. Taking advantage of the local services of an interpreter, she found a family in which two of the six daughters were raised as boys. Setar was born the third child and the parents in desperation decided to bring out her guy. Ali appeared two years later, it suffered the same fate. Next baby finally turned the boy, but Setar and Ali and continued male life.

Now Setar 16, she plays soccer, she has a friend who is not concerned about the gender stereotypes, but her parents forbid her to maintain this relationship. Her sister Ali personal life has been even more tragic: in the 14 years she keeps a box of love letters from his girlfriend. Their relationship did not last long: the parents, Ali warned the parents of the second girl that Ali - "bacha posh," and they immediately sent the daughter to study in the United States to break the link.

As long as "bacha posh 'young, no problems arise. But at puberty it gets complicated: hard to avoid violence and ridicule, many people scorn as "bacha posh" transsexual.

Father Setar and Ali still has to carry their car in the school over the years several times forced the family to relocate. Now parents insist that girls have returned to the women's appearance, but also Setar and Ali v. Once they have a lifetime to enjoy freedom, which gives life in the likeness of men, it is very difficult to give up these privileges. Growing up, "bacha posh" faced with the situation when they realize: impersonate a man they can not due to the physiological development, and to be a girl - can not. However, the surrounding refuse to accept them for what they are.