Afghan Women Get an American Makeover

Talk about different cultures! A few days ago, a watched a really interesting documentary film set in Afghanistan: The Beauty Academy of Kabul. Well-worth seeing.

A group of American hairdressers and three returning Afghan-expats open up a beauty school in Kabul with the intention of teaching the oppressed Afghan women how to do their hair and make up, all smack in the middle of the pile of rubble Kabul has become in the last twenty years. It is inspiring to see how these women make the best of very little - they are incredibly poor, have no rights, are controlled by their husbands...yet somehow they look happy. Go figure.

The one aspect that I found immensely entertaining, if not embarrassing, was the American stylists (God bless their good intentions) teaching those women how to deal with difficult situations: 'Before you walk into your home, knowing your husband will beat you, take a deep breath. Meditate!'

Or how about this one: "If you are sleeping more than 12 hours a day, you should talk to a professional. You might be depressed."

Afghan women obviously have difficult lives and deal with much different stresses than we in the West. But casually suggesting they should seek out a psychiatrist for stress? In Kabul? Perspective, anyone?

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, Afghanistan