A Critical Review on Women Oppression & Threats in Private Spheres: Bangladesh Perspective

Nishat Tarannum,Rashed Ahmed

doi:10.46545/aijhass.v1i2.131

Abstract

The Constitution of Bangladesh ensures the equal rights and status of women in public life. But nondiscrimination over women in the private sphere is not guaranteed. Consequently, there are significant disparities between men and women in all realms of life. Lack of equal access to economic opportunities, education, health services and their lesser role in decision making perpetuate women’s subordination to men and susceptibility to violence. The notion of the society about girl children within the family itself builds up a mindset that girls ought to be less important than the male children. The multiple forms of discrimination against girls begin at home and continue to the end of their lives. This imbalanced foundation of knowledge, fully biased in favour of the males of the family, spreads through the society in general, resulting in tremendous forms of violence and injustice to women as a whole. The article highlights the key reasons of oppression over women such as physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture and its ultimate consequences. This article evaluates the loopholes in the existing criminal justice system of Bangladesh concerning violence against women with mentioning necessary possible way outs.

Highlights

Violence against women is a common occurrence in most societies whether the violence is physical or mental
The seriousness and endemic nature of the issue has placed it as a priority agenda in all international conferences and work plan of UN development agencies
As a result violence against women is viewed as a normal phenomenon even from the women’s perspective

Summary

Introduction

Violence against women is a common occurrence in most societies whether the violence is physical or mental. The issue of violence against women and girls was reviewed extensively in the Fourth World Conference and was highlighted in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). The nature of violence against women in Bangladesh leads one to conclude that there are certain critical gaps in our knowledge and policy. Violence against women has become one of the most visible social issues in this region. The imbalanced foundation of knowledge, fully biased in favour of the males of the family, spreads through the society in general, resulting in tremendous forms of violence and injustice to women as a whole. The entire society gets affected by the male dominated mindset that makes almost every place, such as household, academic institution, workplace and public spaces vulnerable for the women where they could be victims of violence

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Methods

Conclusion