Invisible Roads: Afghan Women’s Urban Mobility under Taliban Governance

This thesis explores how young Afghan women experience and navigate mobility restrictions in Kabul under the current Taliban regime and its socio-political implications. Through a qualitative approach combining semi-structured interviews and participant-generated drawings, the research uncovers the layered ways in which urban space is regulated by dress codes, checkpoints, and gender norms. These external controls produce not only physical limitations but also emotional landscapes of fear, anxiety, and psychological distress. The study highlights recurring themes such as surveillance, spatial exclusion, loss of independence, and the shrinking of public life. Despite these constraints, Afghan women demonstrate resilience and adaptability by employing strategies such as altered commuting paths or online education. By exploring both the verbal and visual narratives of participants, this thesis contributes to feminist and urban mobility studies by providing insights into how space, gender, and power intersect in conflict settings. The findings call for urgent attention to spatial justice, mental health, and women's rights in authoritarian urban environments.