The Favored Daughter: One Woman's Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future In the heart-wrenching and inspiring memoir, "The Favored Daughter," Fawzia Koofi, the nineteenth daughter of a rural Afghan village leader, recounts her journey from being left to die in the sun as an infant to becoming the first female Speaker of Parliament in Afghanistan. Despite facing unimaginable hardships, including the abuse of her family, the exploitative Russian and Taliban regimes, the murder of her father, brother, and husband, and numerous attempts on her life, Fawzia persevered and fought for the freedom and rights of women in her country. Born into a patriarchal society where girls were often seen as burdens rather than blessings, Fawzia's survival was considered a miracle by her family. However, her mother, who had given birth to eighteen boys before her, was determined to keep her alive and gave her the name "the favored daughter. " This label would follow her throughout her life, shaping her identity and fueling her determination to succeed. Growing up, Fawzia faced immense challenges, including the loss of her father and brother to political assassinations, the forced marriage to a much older man at the age of thirteen, and the subsequent death of her husband in a tragic accident. These events only strengthened her resolve to make a difference in the world.

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