Afghan Women Pursue Online Commerce as Path to Economic Survival Amid Restrictions

Online commerce in Afghanistan expanded since 2018 with increased access to 3G and 4G internet. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and restrictions on women's work and education, online trading surged among women and girls, becoming a key source of income for many who could no longer study or work formally. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and WhatsApp groups have served as marketplaces with broad reach and relative safety.

Abrin, who studied medicine at a private university, has engaged in online trade for three and a half years. She cited customer distrust as a challenge, including insufficient awareness of product forms and sizes leading to returns, and lack of prepayment systems causing last-minute order cancellations. Abrin stated, "In today's conditions where all paths for girls and women are closed, the only way to earn income is online trade. You sit at home, work, and it is also good financially and mentally, as you can deal with challenges and rumors."

Nargis Badr, founder of Narsis and Glossy Fashion brands and a 12th-grade graduate who aspired to study psychology, began online sales of handmade bags two years ago and later added gift preparation services.

Shabana Rauf, founder of SH Store, studied environmental engineering at Kabul University for seven semesters before the Taliban study ban halted her education. She operates in cosmetics, cakes, and gift packaging, saying, "Trade is one of the oldest professions in human history... its attractiveness increases when women enter the field with their choices and feminine finesse in production, design, and decoration."

Rauf highlighted challenges including family opposition to women's online work, poor internet connectivity, power outages, lack of online buying culture, no prepayment systems, customer unreliability, and harassment of female traders, including pressures from the Taliban. She advocated learning artificial intelligence alongside online trade to keep pace with global advancements.