Resonating Voices: Afghan Women as Broadcasters and Radio Producers in the 1960s and 1970s: The Careers of Farīda Usmān Anwarī and Anīsa Latīf Durrānī

Abstract

Following the 1964 constitution of Afghanistan, which conferred civil rights that included equal rights for women and freedom of the press, Afghan women capitalised on these opportunities to shape new directions in radio programming. They navigated and negotiated societal constraints to excel as broadcasters and producers, creating widely popular programmes. Their success, driven by diligence and ingenuity, is exemplified by the legacy of radio broadcasting pioneers like Farīda Usmān Anwarī and Anīsa Latīf Durrānī. These women used radio as a form of cultural and artistic resistance, transforming poetry recitation and integrating classical Persianate poetry into their radio shows. This article offers a brief overview of the role of Afghan women in radio broadcasting during the transformative decades of the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting how they navigated emerging media opportunities. In doing so, this study contributes to a broader historical understanding of women’s evolving roles in media and emphasises their agency, innovation and resilience in challenging societal norms.