A Thousand Differences :: Sociology, Social Norms

The world today is full of so many cultures. Each one drastically different from the other and equipped with their own customs and â€Å"social norm†. The culture in America is radically different from that in Afghanistan. This fact is evident in A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This book follows the journeys two young women living in the harsh world in Afghanistan until their paths cross and they unite to rebel against the maltreatment of women that is widely accepted in their country. The lives these women lead in this book is dramatically opposite of the life that women have in America. The daily life over all in Afghanistan is very strange compared to America. They must live with droughts, poverty, and war every day. In 1999, in the city of Kabul, there was a huge drought. It had not snowed in the winter and there was no rain in the spring. The riverbed that ran through the city was completely dried up (261). With very little and scorching heat it must have been exceedingly difficult to cook or stay cool. With two young children to keep fed and hydrated water is a necessity. One of the main characters, Mariam, grew up in a mud hut on the outskirts of a village in the mountains (10). Small houses and very little income was the average life in the country. In her city, a two-story house was practically a mansion, and in America that is considered normal. The standard of living is much lower in Afghanistan. The region the two girls live in was one of constant war. Different ethnicities and religions were constantly fighting and the government was very uns teady. They lived literally in the midst of the battle zone. They could hear gunfire and rockets constantly. Houses along their very own street were taken out by bombs. Laila even lost her parents when her own house was bombed (174). It is impossible to imagine what it would be like living with that. Everyday hearing the whistling and hoping the rocket was not coming down on your house. Then losing your parents, it is unfathomable. Innocent bystanders shot down simple because they are in the wrong time at the wrong place. Women in their country have very little rights and freedoms.