5 problems women face from lack of security to abuses and harassment but put the blame largely on the provocative dressing and behavior of women. There is a minority amongst these moderate mullahs that have liberal views and consider women equal to men but still consider that respecting religious and cultural norms would boost women’s standing in society. Mainstream religious forces do not promote a long-term view to help transform women into constructive social, economic and political players. Nor do they expressly blame Afghan men for the street harassment, abuses and violence that men perpetrate against women. Instead, they remain intent on ‘correcting’ the attitude and behavior of the victims, not those of the perpetrators. Despite recognition that mullahs exercise preponderant power over local communities, neither the Afghan government nor civil society or their international partners have constructively engaged with mullahs in order to harness their support to improve women’s roles in various areas including education and employment. The religious establishment is the force that has most influenced women’s lives across the various layers of society yet it has been disregarded over the past decade, despite largely opting to work against women. Furthermore, as they have done so, they have either been co-opted by the insurgents on ideological grounds or mobilized by opportunist elements - both detrimental to women. The institution of the family, the most important social structure, is both patriarchal and male dominated. This affects women tremendously. In a typical Afghan family, an elderly male or any other male member of the family exercises control and power. As such, power and decision-making are highly hierarchical with women occupying the bottom rung of the power constellation. Within such an arrangement, the opportunity structure is highly discriminatory, keeping women severely marginalized. In their families, women are often treated as secondary to men and are subject to persistent violence and abusive behavior. Physical control of women and the alleged protection of their moral integrity have greater primacy than their education and development as agents of change. Certain cultural norms and twisted religious and traditional practices all disadvantage women and girls but discussions during our research revealed that chronic poverty plays a significant part in women’s predicaments. Male family members are preferred because they are either part of the current productive labor force or have the potential to become economically productive. Women, largely lacking this feature, suffer exclusion and marginalization as a result. Many of the different forms of violence sustained by women can be traced to poverty. Indeed, the criticized practices of child marriage, forced marriage, exchange marriages, the giving away of girls to settle disputes and other forms of family violence have their roots in chronic poverty rather than cultural and traditional mores. Changing women’s status in the