kurdish women ( or jinên/afiretên kurd) have traditionally played important roles in kurdish society and politics. in general, kurdish women's rights and equality have improved dramatically in the 21st century due to progressive movements within kurdish society. however, despite the progress, kurdish and international women's rights organizations still report problems related to gender inequality, forced marriages, honor killings, and, in iraqi kurdistan, female genital mutilation (fgm).