Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, women’s rights and participation in public life have been systematically restricted. In response, Afghan women inside the country and across the diaspora have mobilized digital platforms as sites of resistance and advocacy.
This workshop presents research based on a reflexive thematic analysis of social media posts shared on X by Afghan women activists. The session focuses on two central narratives emerging from the data: solidarity and abandonment.
Key topics include:
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Transnational feminist solidarity and digital activism
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The role of diaspora networks in amplifying local struggles
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Narratives of geopolitical abandonment and critiques of Western saviorism
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Social media as a space of empowerment, visibility, and contestation
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The limitations of digital activism, including inequalities in representation and access
The workshop will encourage critical discussion on how resistance is shaped relationally between local and global actors, and how digital platforms both empower and constrain marginalized voices.
Registration opens on July, 15 2025. Please register until October, 31 2026 via the registration form.
Joana Rafael Pereira is a PhD candidate in International Studies at Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon. Her PhD project, “Afghan Women in the Diaspora: Resistance Against the Taliban’s Gendered Oppression Post-2021,” examines transnational resistance, identity negotiation, and digital activism among Afghan women in diaspora contexts. She holds an MA in International Studies from Iscte and a BA in Languages, Literatures and Cultures from the University of Lisbon. Her work also includes NGO-based research with Humanity on the Move on migration policy, political discourse, and human rights.
The venue is accessible via lifts. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. There is no all-gender toilet in the building. The nearest all-gender toilet is located in the IG Farben Haus, in the basement, room 0.203.
The CGC strives to ensure its events are as accessible as possible. If you require assistance to attend our event, please let us know your support needs by the October 15, 2026 by emailing cgcentrum@soz.uni-frankfurt.de. We will then try to minimise any barriers within our means.
You are welcome to attend this event with your children. Please contact us at the email address above by the October 15, 2026 if you would like us to arrange childcare as well. We look forward to seeing you there.