Ever since the recent submission of a report by the government-constituted Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, we have been witnessing continuous and widespread vilification of the commission and its members by a section of the public.
The remarks made are, to say the least, very unkind -- often abusive, utterly derogatory, and disrespectful to women as a gender.
These reactions are less about any logical criticism of the commission’s report or recommendations and more about using filthy language against women in general, and women's rights advocates in particular.
What the commission essentially did was put forward a set of recommendations for the government’s consideration, so that women in our society -- who often face hurdles, challenges, taboos, and stigma -- could hope for some changes in the future to enjoy their rights and an equal standing with their male peers. These recommendations are not absolute; they are subject to reform, revision, and adoption by the government.
Unfortunately, many of the critics -- many of whom do not believe in gender equality to begin with -- find it convenient to suppress such aspirations for women’s rights by launching scathing attacks and misrepresenting or narrowly interpreting religious beliefs.
They go so far as to not only demand the cancellation of the report and its recommendations, but also to call for putting the commission members on trial for merely proposing them.
Even more worrisome is the noticeable lack of voices within society rallying behind the commission or, more broadly, behind gender-equality advocates to counter these abusive and misogynistic critics.
Strong voices -- whether from the state or non-state actors -- advocating for the cause of women are disappointingly scarce.
After last Friday’s “Nareer Dake Moitree Jatra” (March for Women's Solidarity), things have worsened. Hate speech against women has surged on social media platforms.
Hundreds of women and men gathered at the Manik Mia Avenue rally to express solidarity with the cause of women’s rights and the rights of all genders. That was certainly a welcome development in an otherwise hostile environment. But what worries us most now is the fact that cyberspace is flooded with content that is blatantly abusive and hostile to women.
It is high time that both government and non-government actors walk the talk. Otherwise, the anti-women elements in society will steer the tide in their favour
A band of people -- unfortunately including not only religious bigots but also certain political leaders and cultural activists -- are uploading content with renewed vigour that is completely disrespectful and derogatory to women. I have been observing with deep concern that this attempt to flood our digital space with anti-women content is on the rise.
What should the state’s role be in this context? Should it simply stay on the sidelines, watching and weighing who is gaining more traction online -- the misogynists and women-haters, or the saner, moderate majority who have always stood for equal rights for all in Bangladesh?
The Yunus-led government, which rightly prioritized the formation of a commission to propose recommendations for advancing women’s rights, cannot afford to stop there. Shouldn’t it stand behind the commission members and women’s rights advocates, who are now undeservedly bearing the brunt of these abusive attacks -- both online and offline?
At the very least, the government and its agencies should pro-actively remove toxic content from cyberspace and thereby send a clear message to society. It should also engage with stakeholders -- women leaders, politicians, and religious scholars -- to follow up on the commission’s report.
It is high time that both government and non-government actors walk the talk. Otherwise, the anti-women elements in society will steer the tide in their favour. If they are allowed to take the upper hand, it would be a most unfortunate development in post-Monsoon Revolution Bangladesh.
If we are not deceived by our short memories, it was young women who marched down the streets last July and August in their thousands -- accelerating the changes we all so badly wanted. Their participation essentially turned the tide and helped bring down a fascist regime.
Unfortunately, our transitional government has largely failed to provide an ecosystem reassuring women of their freedom of movement and freedom of attire. Our political system has also yet to offer this new generation of brave young women the space they deserve to further the cause of mainstreaming women in society.
Who would know this better than the man steering the ship -- Professor Muhammad Yunus, the microcredit guru -- who has seen how millions of women on the margins of society lifted their families out of poverty through access to collateral-free small loans.
Women in Bangladesh today are working in every sphere of life. They are the backbone of the sector that contributes 86% of the country’s annual export earnings. The state must help create an environment that facilitates the advancement of women -- and allowing misogynists to spread hatred against women is certainly no way to build that environment.
Reaz Ahmad is Editor, Dhaka Tribune.
