I spent most of the past year in Afghanistan, where I lived and taught in a rule-of-law program funded by the U.S. government at an American-run Regional Training Center. My R.T.C. housed about 700 men, primarily Afghan police trainees. The international community consisted primarily of American soldiers and civilian contractors as well as military personnel and civilians from other nations. I was the only foreign woman who lived in the camp.

Very few Afghan women ever came into the R.T.C., which was used primarily for police training. Various other groups such as the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, DynCorp International and the German military offered other courses, focusing on such topics as forensics, crime scene investigation, law and witness interviews. While these programs were opened to Afghans, male and female, who worked in law, law enforcement or community awareness, few Afghan women ever attended. On a normal day in a class of approximately 40 students, none would be female. On the rare occasions when women did attend, they would usually come in groups of two or four and always sat in the back.

Though these programs were in themselves worthwhile and conducted with good intentions, the accommodations in which they were administered actually undermined one of the most important messages the West is trying to send to the Afghans: the inclusion of women in education. Culturally insensitive actions — no matter how small — speak louder than any speech, grant or program.

I was told by Afghan men that women in their culture did not feel comfortable being seen entering a R.T.C. because it hurt their reputation. Many Afghan men do not want their women leaving home without permission, much less leaving it to acquire an education. Though the women who dared to enter our R.T.C. were given training, the camp facilities and services available to them were severely limited.