The new burqa in Bangladesh: Empowerment or violation of women's rights?

Abstract

Bangladeshi women are subjected to patriarchal norms that are legitimated by both the cultural and the religious values of the country. In recent years these patriarchal norms have been challenged by women's increased physical mobility, a consequence of modernity and globalisation. There has however been a backlash against women's new roles. At the same time, a significant proportion of the newly mobile women, including university students, is adopting the burqa (veil), a practice associated with modern Islamist movements and previously almost non-existent in Bangladesh. This article discusses the implications of Islamist movements and their activities in the country for the rights of Bangladeshi women. The body of the article is concerned mainly with the impact of Islamist movements on women's daily lives, and includes an analysis of why some women have recently begun to adopt the burqa and a more Islamic identity.