Thanks, that helps me understand it better. In my head I was comparing it to systems like apartheid. Which with apartheid there are clear economic benefits for the oppressors. Like cheap/slave labor and by having more opportunities than others. I'm not saying I agree with any of that, but I see why people would do it. But with the Taliban being such a part a patriarchal society to begin with, you would think at some point the oppression would have negative impacts on the oppressors. Of course, there I go trying to apply logic and reasoning for hatred and oppression.

I think the peacock comparison you made is perfect. I still can't comprehend how anyone could belittle another person to make themselves feel better, but it tracks. Thanks for the great response.

Yup. In any group you'll always have those who seek status by being more extreme than the rest. Others in the group feed this by giving them their applause and attention. You see this in even something as trivial as a shared interest groups like hiking or biking. Here the Taliban making this decision (and not all of them want this) are showing they are "more devout and better Muslims than the rest" and also trying to justify their positions.

It is also a good way to deflect attention from the fact that the economy is shit and the Taliban have been lousy rulers.