The situation is somewhat different for women. The proportion of women above 11 who are married issimilar to the one of men for non-disabled women (54.3%), and it is double for polygamy (5.1%), whichcorresponds to an average of two wives for each polygamous man. Gett<strong>in</strong>g married and hav<strong>in</strong>g children areessential components of social acceptability for women <strong>in</strong> Afghan culture. However, women with physical,sensorial, mental and associated types of disability face difficulties <strong>in</strong> gett<strong>in</strong>g married. Only women hav<strong>in</strong>gepilepsy or some other form of seizures, are often married.An essential factor to be taken <strong>in</strong>to consideration is the age at which a person became disabled.Social acceptanceis paramount<strong>in</strong> determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gthe quality oflife of personswith disability,even more so<strong>in</strong> traditionalsocieties wherefamily andcommunity arethe ma<strong>in</strong> supportsystemsThe results show that among women aged 11 to 25, the proportion of non-disabled already married (38.6%)is a lot higher than among young women with disability (between 4.5% for sensorial disability and 13.3%for physical disability). The only exceptions aga<strong>in</strong> are women with epilepsy or some other form of seizureswho are a very high proportion (54.8%) <strong>in</strong> terms of gett<strong>in</strong>g married at an early age. Among older disabledwomen, widows constitute a high proportion. Figure 49 furthermore shows that:• Men and women with disability are, <strong>in</strong> both cases and for all types of disability except epilepsy, less likelyto get married than non-disabled men and women when they became disabled before the average ageof marriage <strong>in</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong> (18 for men and 15 for women).• While 53.5% of non-disabled men and 59.4% of non-disabled women aged above 11 are married, thefigures are slightly different accord<strong>in</strong>g to gender. For men, disabled before the age of 18, the chancesof gett<strong>in</strong>g married are higher for the physically disabled (43.0% are married) than for other categories:31.9% of those with sensorial disability, 35.3% of those with mental disability and 28.0% of those withassociated disability.• For women the marriage picture is the grimmest for those who became physically disabled before theage of 15: only 20.0% are married, <strong>in</strong> comparison to 30.3% of those women with sensorial disability,30.4% of those women with associated disability and 36.8% of those report<strong>in</strong>g epilepsy/seizures.23.1% women hav<strong>in</strong>g a mental disability before the age of 15 are married.As stated earlier, physical disability for men does not directly challenge their ability to earn a liv<strong>in</strong>g. Moreover,physically disabled men, especially those disabled due to war and its consequences, are visible groups whohave a place and consideration with<strong>in</strong> society. A number of Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPO) have beencreated and are ruled by former Mujahid<strong>in</strong> who are war survivors. Special efforts are be<strong>in</strong>g made to ensure<strong>in</strong>come-generation and economic <strong>in</strong>tegration for them. On the contrary, when women become physicallydisabled, their contribut<strong>in</strong>g role with<strong>in</strong> the family is strongly challenged: more specifically their ability tobr<strong>in</strong>g up children.Inclusion or Exclusion <strong>in</strong> Community CelebrationsSocial acceptance is paramount <strong>in</strong> determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the quality of life of persons with disability, even more so <strong>in</strong>traditional societies where family and community are the ma<strong>in</strong> support systems. The position and considerationwith<strong>in</strong> the family and the community will determ<strong>in</strong>e a series of other factors, such as self-esteem, access toeducation and receiv<strong>in</strong>g proper health care <strong>in</strong> case of need. “It is very difficult (…) to determ<strong>in</strong>e what thewords ‘social <strong>in</strong>tegration’ mean <strong>in</strong> a context where segregation occurs with<strong>in</strong> the private space of the homeand where women <strong>in</strong> many Afghan communities only <strong>in</strong>teract socially at rare events such as wedd<strong>in</strong>gs andfunerals”. 43Communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong> are closely knit and the year is punctuated by a number of celebrations. Theparticipation of persons with disability with<strong>in</strong> these various ceremonies can be considered a sign of certa<strong>in</strong>acceptance and respect with<strong>in</strong> the society. This is probably where the perceptions of the causes of disabilitycome <strong>in</strong>: those who are perceived as hav<strong>in</strong>g made a sacrifice for the country or as victims of war <strong>in</strong>juries are43COLERIDGE P. (1998), op. cit.66 Understand<strong>in</strong>g the Challenge Ahead
considered to have a rightful claim with<strong>in</strong> the community and earn the respect of their peers. It is needlessto say that these are mostly men.However, there is also the charity model that <strong>in</strong>fluences attitudes towards disability: traditional supportsystems that do exist are most often based on these beliefs; as Peter Coleridge states “Islam itself br<strong>in</strong>gs asense of social responsibility, evident <strong>in</strong> such th<strong>in</strong>gs as ‘Zakat’ and ‘Ushr’ 44 , both forms of donat<strong>in</strong>g charityto those who have less (…) Help<strong>in</strong>g deprived people, which <strong>in</strong>cluded disabled people, is a religious (andtherefore charitable) duty through which the giver accrues credit for the hereafter.” 45 The charity model comes<strong>in</strong>to play for other causes of disability, specifically those that are not clearly identified. On the receiv<strong>in</strong>g endof the charity are the persons with disability who feel a sense of shame for ‘extend<strong>in</strong>g a begg<strong>in</strong>g hand” 46 . Thismodel is even more valid for the mentally disabled, as NDSA results showed that a huge majority of personswith physical and sensorial disabilities as well as the non-disabled stated that the “dewana” or mentallydisabled should not have the same rights as other categories.Figure 50: Distribution of Persons with Disability Above 14 Years Old Accord<strong>in</strong>gto Participation <strong>in</strong> Ceremonies by Gender, Area of Liv<strong>in</strong>g1009080706050403020100Female MalePersons with DisabilityFemale MaleNon-Disabled1009080706050403020100Rural UrbanPersons with DisabilityRural UrbanNon-DisabledAs a result, participation <strong>in</strong> ceremonies is a reflection of social visibility and acceptance. This is true <strong>in</strong> allethnic groups. Overall, people largely take part <strong>in</strong> a variety of ceremonies. Yet, a certa<strong>in</strong> proportion of peoplewith disability aged 15 and more do not: 20.0% of men and 32.7% of women. These figures are similar <strong>in</strong>urban and rural areas: there is no additional exclusion or stigma <strong>in</strong> villages.Both persons with disability and non-disabled gave responses 47 <strong>in</strong> similar proportion about the majorceremonies they attended <strong>in</strong> 2005. The major ceremonies that people quote are those l<strong>in</strong>ked to themajor events of life: marriage (32.5%) especially, followed by death ceremonies (13.2%) and birthceremonies (3.1%).They also participate <strong>in</strong> various religious ceremonies that are major events <strong>in</strong> the lives of all Afghans. Amongthem Eid, which marks the end of Ramazan, constitutes the most important celebration <strong>in</strong> the country. Itlasts for 3 days start<strong>in</strong>g with the break<strong>in</strong>g of fast before the morn<strong>in</strong>g prayer. For the occasion, people whocan afford it, buy new clothes. Families meet for important meals and festivities. Eid Qurban, the ceremonythat takes place <strong>in</strong> preparation of the pilgrimage to Mecca is also an important occasion <strong>in</strong> the social life ofAfghans. People who <strong>in</strong>tend to make the Hajj or pilgrimage, as well as hajjis who went <strong>in</strong> the past, sacrificeanimals and organise banquets.Participation <strong>in</strong>ceremonies is areflection of socialvisibility andacceptance. This istrue <strong>in</strong> all ethnicgroups. Overall,people largely takepart <strong>in</strong> a variety ofceremonies. Yet, acerta<strong>in</strong> proportionof people withdisability aged 15and more do not44Zakat and Ushr are religiously def<strong>in</strong>ed donations for those who are considered to be less fortunate. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the def<strong>in</strong>itions given<strong>in</strong> the report “Afghan perceptions of disability”, Zakat is obligation, religious tax when you own house, property, and can be given <strong>in</strong>money or food. Ushr is 10% of lalmi harvest (ra<strong>in</strong>fed), and 20% of abi harvest (irrigation) that is for the less fortunate.45COLERIDGE P. (1998), op. cit.46Interview of a person with disability dur<strong>in</strong>g the pre-test of the NDSA questionnaire.47Interviewees could quote up to 3 ceremonies <strong>in</strong> their answer.Social Participation and Future Prospects67