What if we Chose to Raise our Daughters as Sons?

What would be the outcome if we chose to raise our daughters as sons? 

This is an option for families who have girls in Afghanistan, where there is intense societal pressure to give birth to boys.

The New York Times recently posted an article about bacha poshes–which literally means daughters “dressed up as boys.”

“A bacha posh enjoys all the freedoms afforded to a boy in Afghan culture, including the right to have a job, to play sports and to travel freely. Moreover, the presence of a bacha posh increases the family’s social standing in the same way that a permanent son would. Generally, the child’s temporary cross-dressing lasts until puberty, after which the family’s daughter miraculously reemerges just in time for marriage.”

These women become more confident, outspoken and aggressive.  They find the transition into becoming a wife hard as they have to be taught how to "act female", which includes lowering your eyes and being soft spoken.

Read more on the Bacha Posh from an article from Ms Magazine
October 7th, 2010