National Security Goals and the Dancing Boys of Afghanistan

During my year in Afghanistan, I often heard the term “man-love Thursday”. Because Thursday was the last day of the Afghan work week (Friday being a holy day), Thursday night was when affluent Afghans engaged socially. Sort of like Friday or Saturday night in the states.

Part of the bacchanalia certain Afghans participated in was “bacha bazi,” the tradition of dressing young boys in girls’ clothes and have them dance for a group of men. Often times, these men use the boys for sexual favors. In 2010, PBS did an expose on the bacha bazi phenomenon and in 2012 the Washington Post explored the effect on boys, especially after they outgrow the men’s affection.

When the boys age beyond their prime and get tossed aside, many become pimps or prostitutes, said Afghan photojournalist Barat Ali Batoor, who spent months chronicling the plight of dancing boys. Some turn to drugs or alcohol, he said.

Recently, bacha bazi was again in the American news cycle. According to the New York Times, the stress of knowing the boys are sexually abused is taking a toll on certain US military members. They are returning to America conflicted and confused, struggling with the fact that they did not or could not save young boys from being exploited and molested. Often times, these US military members were even told to…