An Afghan woman's life expectancy is just 44 years, and her life cycle often beg
ins and ends in disappointment: being born a girl and finally, having a daughter
of her own. For some, disguising themselves as boys is the only way to get ahea
d. Nordberg follows women such as Azita Rafaat, a parliamentarian who once lived
as a Bacha Posh, the mother of seven-year-old Mehran, who she is raising as a B
acha Posh as well, but for different reasons than in the past.
