First Person - Plastic Surgery and Opium in Afghanistan

I’ve recently been fascinated by the way women’s lives are affected by the different global standards of beauty. From looking at make-up trends, to the latest beauty products, to facial features and proportions, to the pursuit of youth, beauty is not only skin deep but clearly an obsession of human civilization.

• This first article looks at the growing, but still very nascent stages of plastic surgery in Afghanistan. Charting not only the need for women to improve their looks based on cosmetic reasons, the article also looks at the reparative measures surgery can bring to women who suffer from domestic abuse.  
• Taking on a different angle to women, The Atlantic recently published an article about child brides in Afghanistan. These girls are usually daughters of poor farmers, who are sold to recover debt to the family. Enjoy!

Image Source: Siavash Laghai Flickr