F3WMB - sadly, you may be right with a wider non-Afghan religious culture that can treat its females so very badly (almost like other 'posessions' like cattle). However, I take faith in the younger generation like Malala Yousafzai. If we start this education then we stand a chance of change.
Hell, when I look back at my UK female peers at school in the 80s they were the first of generation who were not supposed to find a nice man, have his babies, cook him dinner and be the perfect 'wifey'. My sister, who is 7 years older, fell into this expectation even though she was so much more capable of better.
The schooling is a part of the solution, as are the other lifestyle improvements. If we change the culture in the "13-Century country" then we stand a chance for longer term change - surely?
LJ