Excessive sensitivity among men in closed societies like Afghanistan towards women, which is usually caused by a type of sexual inferiority complex, causes great headaches for women. Women’s movement on city streets is severely problematic due to sexual harassment by men. Fear of street harassment, ranging from simple insults to vulgarities, and from catcalling to sexual assaults, prevents women from having the courage and patience to leave their homes.

Based on illogical methods of upbringing in Afghan society, traditional taboos, superstitious beliefs, and a distorted interpretation of religion, the role of women has always been confined to the four walls of the house. The public space and urban environment have practically been reserved for men, and with this mindset, every man feels entitled to be the ruler of the city squares and refrains from causing any harm or harassment to women.

But the new generation of women who have tasted the poison of so much violence since childhood and now have a good understanding of their surroundings, step into the battlefield to play their real role in society and fight against this one-sidedness in every possible way.

A few days ago, an Afghan woman in Kabul made a symbolic move that caused a lot of reactions among people and social networks. Kubra Khademi, an artist in the field of performance art, protested against street harassment by wearing iron armor and appearing in one of the busy public places in the city of Kabul.

He talks about the reason for his performance of peace: “The purpose of this performance was to start a discussion about street harassment among people and on social networks, and to not forget that there is such a thing as street harassment. This is a symbolic and self-made movement as an Afghan woman, who has been subjected to sexual harassment and abuse since childhood and is always in danger of her life.”

This protest movement, which took place in one of the densely populated areas of Kabul city for about 10 minutes, faced numerous reactions and responses.

Mina Rezaei, one of the friends of Kobra Khademi who accompanied her during the performance, also tells us: “We went to watch Kobra’s movements and accompanied her. She walked on a short stone bridge until the end, in just ten minutes, and during this time some people were shouting, ‘What kind of clothing is this? Aren’t you ashamed?’ Some were throwing stones and running away from behind her, but she continued to increase her speed and kept going.”

Kobra, a servant like thousands of Afghan girls, has stories of the street harassment she has endured throughout her life from childhood until now. She remembers how she has witnessed street harassment since she was a child and has always wished to wear an iron armor to protect herself from it. She says, “The first time, when I was four or five years old, a man touched my body on the street and I just stayed silent, wondering why? At that time, I thought to myself, I wish my underwear was made of iron…”

The servant continues: “This action has been repeated numerous times in my life and I have shown different reactions; for example, once when a man touched me, I screamed loudly and the people around me turned to me and scolded me for making such a noise, while no one paid attention to the harassing man, and other times it was the same… each time my question grew bigger and bigger and finally I decided to protest this situation by wearing an iron dress and with the help of a blacksmith, I made an iron armor.”

Mina Rezaei, a women’s rights activist in Kabul, expresses concern about the situation of women in Afghanistan and says that the protests of Kabul Khademi were different and therefore had different reactions in society.

According to Mrs. Rezaei, after this action was taken, which attracted the attention of domestic and international media and networks, many threats and reactions against Khademi began. Some have criticized and punished her directly through Facebook, email, and phone, while others have done so indirectly.

Mrs. Rezaei says: “Afghan society is not capable of digesting such protests, but these movements can be the beginning of a gradual change.”

At the same time, Kobra, a servant, despite being afraid of talking to the media and going out of the house, says: “I still believe that every act of protest, no matter how ironclad, will somehow shake the walls of the discriminatory structure.”