I Am a Bacha Posh
My Life as a Woman Living as a Man in Afghanistan
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I Am a Bacha Posh
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Narrated by:
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Ariana Delawari
About this listen
"You will be a son, my daughter." With these stunning words Ukmina learned that she was to spend her childhood as a boy. In Afghanistan there is a widespread practice of girls dressing as boys to play the role of a son. These children are called bacha posh: literally "girls dressed as boys." This practice offers families the freedom to allow their child to shop and work - and in some cases, it saves them from the disgrace of not having a male heir. But in adolescence, religion restores the natural law. The girls must marry, give birth, and give up their freedom.
Ukmina decided to confront social and family pressure and keep her menswear. This brave choice paved the way for an extraordinary destiny: She wages war against the Soviets, assists the mujaheddin and ultimately commands the respect of all whom she encounters. She eventually becomes one of the elected council members of her province. But freedom always has a price. For "Ukmina warrior" that price was her life as a woman.
This is a stunning and brave memoir about a little known practice that will challenge your perceptions about gender and the courage it takes to live your life to the fullest.
©2014 Ukmina Manoori and Stephanie Lebrun Translation 2014 by Peter E. Chianchiano (P)2014 Audible Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about I Am a Bacha Posh
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chez
- 30-09-21
Amazing
Phemonal tale of a woman defied stigma to be herself and serve her conscience.
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- Miss Jameela Cotteret
- 10-09-23
Eye opening!
An inspiring story of our time. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would recommend. I particularly enjoyed seeing a different perspective.
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- Ian jones
- 27-02-24
very interesting
I have read some reviews of this book which were a bit negative, I disagree with them. It is written in a simple easy to understand style which if you aren't fully knowledgeable of the subject you will find enhances your knowledge of Afghanistan and people in general. I had great sympathy and admiration for the person the book was written about and hope that they and all females in Afghanistan find happiness.
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- Anonymous User
- 29-04-23
Inspiring and Insightful.
This was a fascinating account of a girl raised as a boy in Afghanistan and the challenges she faced when she was expected to return to being female at puberty.
Having lived in Egypt since 2011, I see the challenges those women face every day. And Egypt is not Afghanistan!
I felt very sad when I realised that this book was written before the Americans and British allowed the Taliban to simply waltz back in to Afghanistan. And I wondered what she would think of Afghanistan now.
Very emotively written. The narration too was easy to listen to.
I will listen to this again, to remind myself that many women live difficult, oppressed lives and to remember how far we, as Western women, have come. We owe it to the women of the Middle East to be strong and to support their endeavours.
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- Vespatini
- 05-01-23
A fascinating listen!
A well written, well narrated book about a little known subject and how it affected one extraordinary person living in Afghanistan. Highly recommended.
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- Jenny Leigh
- 25-08-21
5 star
To learn about Ukminas life has been incredibly eye opening and somewhat bittersweet towards the end.
I wanted to learn more about women in Afghanistan and I feel this book gives a very unique and personal look into Ukminas life and culture. I've learnt many new things!
I want to know more about Ukmina but what I have found so far is very limited. Please direct me!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- catsholiday
- 04-02-23
This was an education for me
I had no idea that Bach’s Posh was an acceptable cultural thing in Afghanistan.
This is a very weird idea and must be extremely confusing for those girls.
This person refused to go back to the restraints of being female at puberty and remained dressing as a man.
She fought in the Mujahideen against the Russians and won the respect of men and women.
If is an amazing story of a very brave woman in a bald dominated society in z country at war.
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- Robin Beattie
- 11-06-24
Troubles being a girl but haveing to dress as a man
Interesting look at having to dress as a man relies on trust to survive she, says it is not any easy role in changeing your mind presents serious problems due to restrictions of what women are allowed to do
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