I Am a Bacha Posh"You will be a son, my daughter." With these stunning words, Ukmina learned that she was to spend her childhood as a boy. In Afghanistan, there is a widespread practice of girls dressing as boys to play the role of a son. These children are called "bacha posh," literally "girls dressed as boys." This practice offers families the freedom to allow their child to shop and workand in some cases, it saves them from the disgrace of not having a male heir.