Farzana Wahidy photographed women in different life and work situations in Afghanistan. While most stories on women in Afghanistan focus solely on the negative aspects of their lives, Wahidy aims to capture the full breadth of their experiences. Her photographs capture daily life at home, work, and school, as well as special occasions such as weddings. She also includes images of women who have suffered physical and emotional violence as a result of religious restrictions and traditional customs.
Hear from Wahidy as she talks about her project and reflects on her experiences.
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Farzana Wahidy was born in Kandahar in 1984 and moved to Kabul at the age of six. She attended school during the years of the Afghan civil war, and after the Taliban came to power, she secretly attended an underground school with 300 other girls. When the Taliban were defeated, Wahidy continued her education, completing high school then a two-year program at AINA Photojournalism Institute.
In 2004, she worked for Agence-France Presse, becoming the first female Afghan photojournalist to work for an international wire service. Later, she joined the Associated Press. In 2007, Wahidy received a scholarship to attend the Photojournalism Program at Loyalist College in Canada and graduated in 2009. Wahidy is the recipient of the National Geographic All Roads Photography Program Merit Award and was nominated for World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass.