Afghan Women Turn to Business Under Taliban Restrictions

June 21, 2026 - 12:56

With secondary schools and most formal jobs now closed to them, thousands of Afghan women have found entrepreneurship to be their only remaining route to earn money and stay connected with the outside world.

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the regime has systematically barred women from secondary education, most government jobs, and many public spaces. But a quiet economic shift is taking place behind closed doors and inside private homes across Afghanistan.

Women are launching small businesses from their kitchens and living rooms. They bake bread, sew clothes, make crafts, and sell homemade goods through word of mouth and social media. Some have started tailoring shops in their homes, while others grow vegetables in small gardens to sell to neighbors.

These micro-enterprises do not generate large incomes. Most women report earning just enough to help feed their families. But the businesses serve a second purpose that is just as important. They provide a rare opportunity for women to gather, talk, and support each other in a society that has increasingly isolated them.

Running a business under Taliban rule comes with serious risks. Women must navigate unclear regulations and avoid drawing unwanted attention. Some have been shut down or fined. Others operate in constant fear of raids or harassment.

Still, the number of women-led home businesses continues to grow. For many, entrepreneurship is not a choice but a necessity. Without it, they would have no income and almost no social contact outside their immediate families.

International aid groups have taken notice. Some now offer small grants and training programs specifically for women entrepreneurs. But the long-term outlook remains uncertain. The Taliban has not issued clear policies on women running businesses, leaving them in a legal gray area.

For now, these women keep working quietly. Their businesses may be small, but they represent a form of resistance and survival in a country where women's rights have been erased from public life.