Fri 28 Mar 2008
In a city where women in general are constantly victimised because of their gender and living alone is considered strange and often looked down upon even for men; there are a few individuals — women in particular — who due to often practical reasons, have opted to break tradition and are unafraid to live their own lives, in their own space. These independent women have chosen to live on their own, without the immediate support system of their families or a male figure — those who decided to set their own rules and redefine their roles in society.
Have you had similar experience that you would like to share?
April 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
The narrow-minded misogyny exposed in this article would be laughable, were it not so widespread and were its effects not so serious. One must salute the courage and dignity of the women concerned in the face of such outmoded prejudice, which I know many others will feel unable to combat.
A friend and former colleague of mine, born in Bangladesh but for many years a British citizen, fell foul of these social pressures when she was setting up a charitable organisation in Bangladesh. Eventually the malicious tittle-tattle became too much for her and she accepted an apparently sincere proposal of marriage from a member of a prominent political family, thinking this would solve the problem. She was also convinced there was genuine affection on both sides.
Since then she has been defrauded of money and property, accused falsely of theft (by her husband, no less!) and has had the organisation she founded taken over before being stripped of all her honorary posts and effectively discarded.
The Press in Bangladesh took no interest when notified of her case; persons in authority, who might reasonably have been expected to at least investigate on her behalf, did nothing - she was just a lone woman and so could safely be ignored.
Threats and intimidation, virtual imprisonment, rescue by the British High Commission…the events that followed her marriage would read like the plot of a Bollywood thriller, minus the dance routines, if they were given in full.
Women in Bangladesh, it seems, need more courage and determination than men if they are to gain the respect that should be theirs by right.