“I felt my life’s achievements burning before my eyes”: The Impact of the Taliban’s Ban of Female Education on Afghan Female students in China’s Universities

The catastrophic collapse of Kabul in August 2021 had a profound impact on the entire nation, intensifying the challenges faced by female students both within and outside Afghanistan. The ban on female education imposed by the new regime has had significant ramifications. This study investigates the influence of this decree on Afghan female international students in Chinese universities. Through in-depth interviews with fifteen participants, the research evaluates their viewpoints on the decree, its impact, and their responses. The findings indicate that participants perceive the decree as an ideological attempt by the regime to reintroduce gender-based discrimination, which contradicts Afghanistan’s native cultural values. This decree has brought about psychological complications for Afghan female students, including anxiety, depression, despair, isolation, and loneliness. Furthermore, it has resulted in insecurities and uncertainties regarding their future, with them choosing not to return to Afghanistan but rather seeking opportunities in mainland China and exploring asylum or migration opportunities in a third country after graduation. The study concludes that the new regime must refrain from implementing restrictive gender-based policies and should offer equal educational opportunities to all Afghans, regardless of gender or ethnicity. On the basis of these findings, this study recommends that the international community collaborate and convince the new regime to establish fair educational procedures. More specifically, it suggests that Chinese higher education institutions enhance support for international students from conflict-affected and unstable countries by providing psychological assistance and future opportunities. Such measures are likely to boost the academic progress and future prospects of Afghan female students and other international students from similar backgrounds.