Research Essay Final Draft

Farzana Khan

April 17, 2016

Eng 1121-0465

Essay 3: First Draft

Crime, Education, and Politics: Women of Bangladesh

Susan B. Anthony once said, “men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less” (Brainy Quote). Bangladesh is one of the many under-developed countries to take heed of these wise words. Its population is one of the highest in the world, and the gender ratio is higher in females. Bangladesh is also known for being ruled, as of 2016, for the last twenty-five years by female Prime Ministers by electing Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Although the country has been run by two female leaders, women’s rights issues are still being handled gradually. In the recent years, Bangladesh has been coming forth on acknowledging these problems and a quiet revolution is stirring. Some examples of these issues are, crimes against women, education of women and the empowerment of women as well.

Crimes against women are growing rampant in recent years. Rape crimes are most prevalent in Bangladesh due to patriarchal customs. In many cases, women are blamed for the crime because they are looked down upon and their rights are somewhat not important in society’s eyes. According to an article written by Probir Bidhan, “The country’s laws are also riddled with loopholes that allow rapists to escape punishment, if they can prove the victim to be “characterless”” (Bidhan). The argument which arises in this case is that the victim was not dressed “appropriately” or she was out late at night by herself. Many women in Bangladesh fail to report violence committed against them because there persists a stigma surrounding rape. If the crime becomes publicized, the victim’s life could be at risk. Her reputation would be tarnished and she would also suffer the consequences of not finding a spouse who would marry her. Although rape crimes are growing rapidly, progress is slow, but surely present. Stricter laws and policies are being enforced to control these crimes against women, but many other crimes are still widespread.

Acid attacks against women are gaining rapid popularity since the chemical is easily accessible in Bangladesh. Many women fall victims to this crime when they reject a marriage or a love proposal. The reasoning behind this is, if he can’t marry her, no one can. Acid is mainly used because men do not want to kill, they want to disfigure the woman. Acid burns can melt the skin away, down to the bone so they often require expensive medical treatment, and many families cannot afford it. The victim is then left with a face that is barely recognizable. According to an article written by Ranjita Biswas, “Preventive measures include locking up shops in order to prevent the sale of acid, banning vehicles suspected of carrying acid and suspending acid selling licenses. If found guilty, perpetrators face a fine of up to 1,200 dollars, or, in more serious cases, capital punishment” (Biswas). These type of incidents take place in rural areas because laws are rarely enforced. The communities are mostly indigenous and many of these crimes are infrequently reported. Many womens’ rights activists are working hard to find an end to this crime, and some are slowly prevailing.

Dowry crimes that hurt women are also becoming widespread due to economic hard times, and high unemployment rate. Marriages are no longer seen as a bond between two lovers, it has now changed into a business transaction. According to an article written by Farah Deeba Chowdhury, “Husbands consider their wives’ income as a source of wealth accumulation” (Chowdhury 245).  Many times, men pick their spouses in terms of monetary contributions they will receive from the marriage. The highest bidder wins. This medieval tradition has caused many women to remain unmarried because of their families’ inability to afford paying a dowry. These women are seen as a burden for the family from the day they are born. The dowry tradition exists more in the Hindu communities in Bangladesh as it originated from ancient Hindu culture.

Bangladesh falls short on educating women due to many underlying issues, which are, familial income, gender inequality, and early marriage. Familial income plays a huge role in educating young females. Although there are many government schools that do not require tuition, the quality of education is very poor. To acquire better education, many families need to send their daughters to a private school where the tuition rate is extremely high. In an article written by Novoryta, Ami, speaks about the hardships young woman are facing because of poverty. She writes, “When we met in rural Bogra, I asked about her aspirations. With a shrug, she replied only that “I can afford little, so I dream little” (79).  Due to this factor, families are often stuck with the choice of government schools. In some cases, women cannot go to school because of poverty in the household. Their extra hands are put in to work, which leaves no room for schooling.

Gender inequality also has a substantial effect on women’s education. Since Bangladesh follows patriarchal customs, women are left on the sidelines for schooling. They are seen as a burden, with no use except for marriage. Men on the other hand, are reprimanded to go to school. They are seen as most beneficial, in terms of acquiring income. Ami also writes, “For a poor girl in Bangladesh, the journey from her class room to the workplace is interrupted by early marriage” (Ami 79).

Early marriages are the final and most consequential reason of women’s lack of education in Bangladesh. “She will go from her parents hut to her husband’s home, and while independence and a career may be her dream, marriage and motherhood are her reality” (Ami 79). For many females their marriages are settled before they reach adulthood. Young girls are used as collateral for familial compensation in the form of marriage. The parents are no longer her responsibility, and it is passed down to her husband after marriage. It is then decided if he wants his wife to pursue education, but in many cases, this is not brought up.

Although women are facing tough times in crimes, and education, their empowered presence in Bangladeshi politics are as important as their presence in domestic areas of life. In Bangladesh women comprise nearly half of the total population, but the status of women is much lower than that of men in every sphere of life. Women are expected to serve in the domesticated areas of life, such as child-rearing, cooking, and cleaning. From a man’s perspective, women do not have the ability and education to serve in the political arena. Politics are seen as a masculine subject, and this is quite ironical since there are two female prime ministers who have served the country for twenty-five years and counting. “In order to ensure a minimum representation of women in the parliament, the Constitution of Bangladesh provides for 45 reserved seats for women” (Chowdhury 256). Women’s equal participation in political life plays a pivotal role in the general process of the advancement of women. Not only must women fight for equality in politics, but to also bring forth justice in many issues such as the crimes being inflicted upon them, and womens’ lack of education.

Despite playing the role of only a housewife, women are slowly being empowered to do much more. A documentary by Yousuf Hasan Nayeem called, Flickering of Fireflies | A Documentary on Women in Politics in Bangladesh, suggests, “In the national elections in December 2008 Bangladeshi women gained a huge success in parliament: 19 women got a direct mandate. Although a quota of 45 women of 345 members for the parliament exists, this was the first time, so many women got a direct mandate outside the quota” (Nayeem). These advances are erupting a slow change of women in politics for the better.

Women of Bangladesh have many more obstacles to cross before reaching justice and equality in the areas of crime, education, and politics. Their lives are much more arduous than the lives of women in developed countries. Their struggle will be difficult, but success will be sweet when reached. Progress is slow, but steady, and recent changes in laws and politics are very much helping woman to reach their goal. In an ideal world, women should not have to cross these many obstacles for justice and equality, but there might be an underlying reason behind their fight. One should not take her freedom for granted because someone else in the world is giving up her life for it.

Works Cited:

“Susan B. Anthony.” BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2016. 24 May 2016. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/susanbant128067.html

Bidhan, Probhir A. “Probir Bidhan | Dhaka Tribune – Academia.edu.” Probir Bidhan | Dhaka Tribune – Academia.edu. Global Voices, 15 Aug. 2015. Web. 10 May 2016.

Biswas, Ranjita F. “Stronger Laws to Deter Acid Attacks on Women.” Inter Press Service. IPSNews, 12 May 2013. Web. 10 May 2016.

Chowdhury, Farrah D., et al. “Socioeconomic Factors And Processes Associated With Domestic Violence In Rural Bangladesh.” International Family Planning Perspectives 30.4 (2004): 190-199. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 May 2016.

Novoryta, Ami. “The Bridge to Nowhere: A Report on Women and Education in Bangladesh.” Kennedy School Review. President and Fellows of Harvard College, through the John F. Kennedy School of Government. 2009. HighBeam Research. 10 May. 2016 <https://www.highbeam.com>.

Flickering of Fireflies | একমুঠো জোনাকি | A Documentary on Women in Politics in Bangladesh. Dir. Yousef H. Nayeen. Perf. Dr. Nazmunnessa Mahtab. Yousuf Hasan Nayeem. TVN Bangla, 02 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.