Disadvantaged women’s rights should genuinely be ensured

 Md. Masum Billah: All the development organizations-local and international, small and large- have attached serious importance to the women issues for quite a pretty long time.  The government of Bangladesh has taken some pragmatic steps such as fixing up the number of women teachers in primary level school teaching, introducing female stipend in the secondary level, lengthening the maternity leave, placing some women in the highest positions of the state which was occupied only by the male members.  One day one high official of Care Bangladesh asked me what suggestions I can give them to recruit more women in the organization. I just replied to give them more incentives. Actually, the problem lies in the fact that less number of women enters higher education because of some practical facts and cultural reason.  Those who receive higher education all of them don’t take up jobs. When the entrance of women in job market is thinner, their promotion to higher position must be thinner. Many organizations adopt the theory to give more promotion to women ignoring their number and qualities which creates some adverse criticisms.

Introducing   stipend for girls’ education in the secondary level has encouragingly sparked interest among the rural girls and their guardians. Now, in most of the village high schools the number of girl students outnumbers that of boys. Of course quality has declined. Even then, at least girls are coming to school. This issue calls for serious attention of all. These girls and their guardians prepare them and allow them to read upto class ten just to show the prestige of their daughters’ being in class ten or appeared in the SSC examination. Then they get them married. The quality of education and furthering of education i.e. to study in the intermediate and tertiary level is hardly thought by the girls, their parents and in the society and accordingly they are not prepared academically. As a result, they lag behind their male counterparts. Without increasing their participation in higher education, how can the development organizations expect more women’s participation in job market and in the managerial level?

Despite various  sorts of developments, still the privileged section of women receives higher education and to give higher education to the unprivileged section no such better arrangement has yet been ensured .  But we want to see more women in the job, in the managerial position and in the executive positions which seems to be paradoxical. The girls and women of the deprived sections still face bitter situation everywhere—–in the family, in the in-laws’ house, in the workplace and in the society. Who actually give genuine thought for them? What actually has been done for them? How can we actually empower them must be given due consideration. Suppose, the girls working in the garment factories lead a miserable life because of insanitary housing, they don’t drink water because many factories cannot make good arrangement for their wastage clearance. They have to work hard standing on their toes for hours together. On the women’s day it is hardly discussed how to ensure a better working environment for the garment workers who are contributing to our national economy. Girls in the disadvantaged section still become the victim of ‘ fatwa’. Education and economic emancipation can give them relief. Do we actually, reach those deprived section?

Another interesting thing takes place in the working places. Some women executives don’t want the promotion, empower and facilitate for their women colleagues. They have also some theories that women must decide their own career. They must not be shown only sympathy. They must prove their worth. I think those who are in an advantaged position must prove their worth and think of their career. Only in the name of gender they must not be given any extra benefit. It rather makes them inferior or weaker. But those millions of women living in disadvantaged positions must be extended all sorts of incentives, privileges, benefits and special considerations. If we don’t do that, they will remain neglected year after year even though many changes have taken place outside the world and the advantaged ones will continue enjoying all sorts of advantages unduly in the name of gender disparity.

When our disadvantaged and middle class female members cannot move freely in the market, on the footpath, in the offices or even in the educational institutions due to throwing filthy words, lustful and languishing look, grouping or trying to touch their body particularly buttocks or breasts by males and females restrain themselves and crouch out of shame, can we say that these symptoms are healthy? It is ‘sexual terrorism’ which has been terrorizing the society, humanity and the minds of our sisters. These objectionable tasks of males make the females psychologically and mentally weak and disturbed. Of course, our government has designated June 13 as ‘Eve Teasing Protection Day’ but the activities of the day did not registrar so much excitement or irritation in the society. The role of media on this day was not so widespread and mentionable.

Another thing I like to mention here. When I ask some of my foreign colleagues and friends about their family and children, they simply reply ‘ I am single’ or ‘ I am divorced’ or ‘ I have not yet got married.’ It indicates that a significant number of western people cannot enjoy the blessing of family life. They just enjoy the materialistic gain. May be, materialistic poverty they don’t face but the poverty aching their mind is hardly seen by us. In our country even the domestic worker lead a very peaceful conjugal life with her husband and children. They feel a strong urge to meet and spend time with their family members which is a kind of elixir   to give mental peace and happiness. This peace and happiness can never be bought by anything else. Among other things, we can boast of our social culture. Many women do not do any job in spite of their having requisite qualification. Many women leave the job to give more time to the family. We must not calculate this thing in terms of money, job or women empowerment.

I cannot but cry when I see the poor and deprived women work in the street making their children lay on the ground. I cannot control my tears when I experience out of poverty husband and wife continues quarrels. I cannot consol my mind when I see the lack of education and sincerity husband and wife get separated even after living ten or twelve years together. I cannot understand the fabric of the society when I see street children bare footed and torn shirt sell flowers beside the streets when they are supposed to go to school. But the so called aristocratic women very negligently refuse to buy the flowers from these children or sometimes they give a threatening shrill cry to chase them. I get wondered when I see and learn that the maid servants are denied of watching TV, deprived of the same of kind of food and dress by the so called women leaders.

The United Nations declared 8 March in 1974 as ‘International Women’s Day’ and from 1975 it has been observed for the first time across the globe. Bangladesh, being a member of UNO, has been observing the day with due solemnity. BRAC has organized a common platform known as ‘Social Protection Committee’. It wants to ensure equal rights of women in the family, society and state and with this end in view BRAC works on its own stance along with 61 Women and Human Rights organizations of the country so that women can be really honoured and empowered. But in the state it must be ensured by the national effort. We have six women ministers registering 18.5 percent women representation.  In Parliamentary Standing Committee among the 400 members only 60 have been occupied by women proving only 15 percent. In the high level positions out of 49 only two are women, out of 64 Deputy Commissioners only one is woman and 489 Upazila Nirbahi Officers only 26 are women. Women must come forward with their strength and determination  real exposure. They must not think of getting sympathy. They must occupy the responsible positions of the state by virtue of their performance and intelligence.  In the local government body the participation and response of women are really encouraging. We know out of 481 reserved seats for Upazial Vice-Chairmen, 2211 women participated.  NGO level women’s representation stands AS 22 percent but in the national level it stands 10 percent. As fifty percent of our population is women, their active involvement is a must to lead the country forward. Still 74 percent women are illiterate. Twenty five thousand women die of pregnancy related  problems  every year.  These issues must be really addressed in the national level if we really want to see our disadvantaged women in a better position.  BRAC has given health and hygienic training to 24 lakh village girls. More development organizations should come forward to join this procession along with concerted efforts of the government to make the observance of international women’s day really meaningful.

 Md. Masum Billah, Program Manager: BRAC Education Program,Cell: 01714-091431

Email: [email protected]