Men's Support for Women's Education in Afghanistan: The Roles of Income and Insecurity

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Abstract
This study examines men's attitudes toward women's education in Afghanistan across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, as well as women pursuing studies in other provinces or abroad. Using nationally representative repeated cross‐sectional survey data from over 69,000 respondents collected by the Asia Foundation (2014–2021) across all 34 provinces, we apply multivariate regression analysis to assess attitudinal patterns. We find that men's attitudes are largely negative, particularly in rural areas. Women's financial contributions to their households are significantly associated with more supportive attitudes toward women's education, particularly at the secondary and tertiary levels, and when studying outside their home province. Perceived insecurity exacerbates negative attitudes, though this effect is less pronounced when women contribute financially. These findings highlight the role of economic empowerment in reshaping gender norms and advancing educational equity in Afghanistan. Our results are robust across multiple sensitivity checks and alternative specifications.

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