Asia Foundation: Afghans' Views About Women's Rights, Role in Society % who agreed strong opportunities ly or somewhat that women should have the agreed same strong opportunities ly as men in education % who saidmen and women should have positions equal representation in elected government positions % who said women should be allowed to work outside
Sarobi, however, has reportedly received numerous death threats, and despite some visible gains for women’s rights – especially since the days of Taliban rule from 1996-2001 – surveys show mixed feelings among the Afghan public about women’s role in society. For example, there is a stark contrast between the share of Afghan women (60%) and men (35%) who support equal representation for men and women in elected government positions, according to a 2013 survey of Afghans conducted by The Asia Foundation.
On one hand, 90% of Afghans in that survey agreed that everyone should have equal rights under the law (regardless of gender), and 83% agreed that women should have the same opportunities as men in education – including a strong majority (78%) of Afghan men. (The survey also found that 76% of Afghan women have received no education, an area Sarobi cites as a key priority.)
But at the same time, a significant minority of Afghans (36%) said that women should not be allowed to work outside the home – a share that had grown from 27% in 2006. While 82% of Afghan women said in 2013 that women should be allowed to work outside the home, just 51% of men agreed.
Asia Foundation: Afghans' Views About  | Women's Rights, Role in Society  | % who agreed strong opportunities ly or somewhat that women should  | have the agreed same strong opportunities ly as men in education  | 83  | Overall  | 90  | Women  | Men  | 78  | % who saidmen and women should have positions equal  | representation in elected government positions  | 44  | Overall  | Women  | 60  | Men  | 35  | % who said women should be allowed to work outside  | the home  | 63  | Overall  | Women  | 82  | Men  | 51  | Source: The Asia Foundation 2013 survey.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 