Give women their due
Gender equality and equity is needed not only on paper but also in action
Suraiya Yasmin
At many vacancy announcements, the organisations mention that qualified women are encouraged to apply but in reality do they really prefer women for their vacant position? During a job interview once an interviewer asked me that as a woman will you be able to do this job by travelling in rural area? The question seems to me that the interviewers already set their mind that women are not fit for their vacant positions. I faced a number of interviews where I faced same type of question which reminds me that I am a woman apart from human.
Are the city transports verily women-friendly? During office time it happens several times that I am waiting for bus from longer hours but maximum buses remain filled out where only men can catch those by running or pushing others. Some buses do not allow women during office hours which can obstruct them to pull further passengers (men) where in front of women they pull men. Even though both men and women need to reach office timely, some buses in city hold reserve seats for women, children and autistics. One day I requested a man to leave the reserve seat but his expression was really hurting and after some argument he vacated the seat by saying that women are same as autistic that is why the seats are kept for them separately.
I visited some slum areas in Dhaka city and surveyed some slum houses and the scenario I saw was that child marriage was rampant. According to UNICEF global databases 2016, the child marriage rate below age 18 is 52 percent in Bangladesh while the rate was 65 percent in 2000. The girls who need to study now are rearing children. I asked some girls there about study but they think that marriage is their destiny. I could realise that their living environment didnt teach them about their rights and also didnt make them feel that they have the power to do something for their own.
By increasing the rate of literacy change can take place but actual education is needed to face this circumstance. By reading fixed pages from books no one receives proper education rather passes examinations only. I came to know about subjects like gender equality, gender equity, sexual harassment and child abuse during my post-graduation course but I felt that I could have learnt these topics during my primary education. If a child knows about child abuse after passing child age then what is the value for it? If a girl is acquainted with womens and girls rights during her primary education then she would be able to prepare her future from that view. Furthermore, if children are able to know the value of respect between differing genders from their primary age then their views towards opposite gender are sure to change. A proper monitoring and evaluation is essential to establish at every school so that a single child should not be deprived from actual education. Alternatively an obligatory training session can be arranged for primary children regarding the concerns.
In family where men and women both are working there a womans responsibilities not only end by doing eights hours job whither she also manages to care her own family, her parental family and also in-laws family. She does household chores such as cooking, taking care of children and looking after every little thing. She needs to maintain regular contacts with her in-laws family and manage them to avoid any misunderstanding. She takes care of her own parents as she perceives them in mind and also tries to solve any kind of problem there. She also visits beauty care centres to keep herself fit because a wifes bulky and dull face is not acceptable to her partner.
If I say about city women who are educated and believe in independency they are also obstructed by their husbands and family members in some cases where the traditional type of family believes that women are showcase and they deserve to remain as house furniture. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey in 2015 found that 80.2% women face violence in the form of any physical, sexual, emotional, financial and controlling behaviour.
However, by formulating new rules and laws these complications are not going to halt. A report of BRAC, 2017 has revealed that every day on an average about 20 women and girls become victims of violence.
Time is changing and people are also adapting with time. At present time Bangladeshi women are also achieving success in every sector but the status they deserve to hold is not forthcoming. They should be conscious of their own identity rather than dependency. Women ask for rights but they shouldnt ask for rights where in reality they already hold rights as a national of their own country. They simply need to open their eyes. Our society and tradition create variances between men and women owing to this reason, possibly many do not want to accept women empowerment. Sexual abuse, harassment and violence against women are happening day-to-day. We need to find out the reasons first to understand the solution.
Gender equality and equity is needed not only in papers but also essential to hold by us from our beliefs. Our government has taken appreciating initiatives for stopping the imbalance in gender status while a number of rules and regulations have been established. We are going ahead with the highest strength whilst unity can take us in top position. Unity is strength and we should respect each other apart from any gender. Where Bangladesh holds women in the topmost leading positions like Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Speaker of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition there no one can say that women are alone to go ahead here.
The writer is a researcher on development and gender issues
