A girl raised as a boy (a bacha posh) defies her society’s norms to re-assume the role of a girl at puberty. She refuses to give up all of the freedom she had as a boy. By “fighting” the Soviets (she never killed anyone), & then visiting Mecca, she gains respect to be elected twice to provincial posts—her goal to help Afghani women. She’s illiterate & the writing style of this memoir is very simple, or perhaps it’s the translation.

During the civil wars after Russia was ousted, she had to go into hiding when the Taliban seized control—a woman exercising any sort of freedom considered the worst of sins. I tried to learn what she’s doing now with the Taliban back in control but couldn’t find anything. I assume she is back in hiding. ( )

I was astounded and impressed by the story of this women who was dressed as a boy during childhood and then, despite lack of education, went on to become a political figure, refuse to take up life as an oppressed Afghan women, and did what she could within her restrictive culture, to help others. The book is not, per se, well written: sometimes the meaning is literally lost in translation, and the author did not have the privilege of literacy, but I thought it an eye-opening and worthy read. ( )

In Afghanistan there is a widespread practice of young girls dressing as boys to take up the role of son and protect family honour. Once puberty sets in and the female traits become too visible these so-called bacha posh children are forced to switch back to clothing and behaving like any other girl. Gone are the relative freedom, the possibility to go out shopping on your own and eventually getting education. Ukmina Manoori was such a bacha posh, but refused to obey Islam law on this point, and even stood up against her father when he repeatedly beat her mother.
In I Am a Bacha Posh : My Life as a Woman Living as a Man in Afghanistan, Ukima recounts her youth, adolescence and adult life. As rare Afghanistan woman she continued to enjoy the freedom of a boy, fought with the mujaheddin against the Soviets, managed to even keep her position during the Taliban regime. She never was married or engaged with another boy or girl. Ukmina was counted in the (small) circle of bravest women of Afghanistan, went to Mecca for her Hajj and even became a politician for her province, met Hillary Clinton and devoted herself to learn to read and write as well. A stunning memoir of a peculiar practice, the price of freedom against the background of Afghanistan's recent history. ( )