From: The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples/Afghans/Grant Farr
Because Afghanistan is a country of many languages, ethnic groups, and religious sects, the community in Canada tends to divide itself into subcommunities that reflect these divisions. The important ones are between Persian- and Pushto-speakers and between the Sunni and Shiite Muslim sects. The Afghan community does at times identify with its state nationality, however, and comes together to celebrate important national holidays, particularly the Afghan new year, Nowrooz, which occurs at the vernal equinox. There is some social stratification among Afghans based on religion (Sunni above Shiite), language (Pushto over Persian), wealth, occupation in Afghanistan and in Canada, and other historical characteristics such as closeness to the former royal family. This stratification is fluid, with status markers from the old country quickly giving way to those relevant to the Canadian setting.
As in other Islamic or Third World countries, women from Afghanistan, even the wives of Western-educated men, tend not to be as well educated as the men or to have been exposed to Western lifestyles. The veiling of women had declined in Afghanistan, especially in Kabul, by the late 1970s. In the refugee community in Pakistan, however, veiling and the seclusion of women were strong since Islamic fundamentalist ideology dominated the camps. As a result, Afghan immigrant women face a more difficult time than men in the open Canadian setting. Since Afghans do not tend to live in enclaves where women could remain protected, and since their income is often needed immediately, most women immigrants must rather soon leave the seclusion of the home and find work. They tend to do so without great fanfare and seem to adjust quickly to the Western setting. Life is also made difficult for women by changes in the family structure. In Afghanistan, extended family settings, where women can easily associate in the compound with relatively large numbers of female relatives or acquaintances, are the norm. In Canada, life is centred less on the extended and more on the nuclear family, a situation that often leaves women isolated from female companions.
Decisions in Afghanistan are made through village or national councils composed of male elders, who are referred to as the “grey beards.” Age is highly respected in Afghan society. In Canada the younger generation has had to assume a greater leadership role since it is they who are better able to operate in the Western setting. This change has created some tension in the Afghan community as elders have had to give way to the next generation and sons are now telling their fathers what to do. Leadership roles are changing in other ways as well. Traditional indicators of leadership status in Afghanistan, such as tribal or kin connections, may provide temporary standing in the immigrant community, but new markers appropriate to the Canadian situation, such as economic or occupational success, soon become more important.
