We have all grown up with stories about mothers who have been shunned from their family and community because they gave birth to daughters, men and women who have gone through life grappling with remorse over not having had a son, and daughters who have been treated as lesser beings over the course of their entire lives. For some of us, as unfortunate as it is, these were more than stories, but the very reality of our internal family dynamics.
Whether these grim stories unfolded within our walls or outside our walls, they did take place, and we, as a society, have indeed internalized many harmful gendered norms, leading to the systematic perpetuation and vindication of discrimination as well as violence against women and girls in the country.
But that is not to say that we cannot change, that we are doomed to repeat our failings; because if there is one redeeming quality that we all share, it is our capacity for change and sincerity, to do better and evolve with time.
To this end, the UNFPA Bangladesh organized the months-long campaign, titled “Celebrating Daughters,” with the slogan, “My Daughter, My Future,” in a bid to celebrate the indispensable role that our daughters play in all spheres of life, and to reinvigorate the conversations around the inherent value of our women and girls through the active participation of young minds.
The closing event of the campaign, implemented by Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) and Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD), with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh, was held on last Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at the TSC premises, University of Dhaka.
The venue premises were decorated wall to wall in joyous colors and boasted impressive installations -- drawing droves of families with young children as well as young people from all over the capital. Participants waited in long queues at the TSC gate and formed small crowds at the exhibition premises throughout the day. They asked challenging questions, shared personal anecdotes, proposed solutions to mitigate the undervaluing of women and girls, and pledged to uphold the right of the daughters of Bangladesh to practice their agency as fully capable individuals.
Marking the launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the event featured a diverse array of activities, including a photo exhibition, audio-visual showcase, youth dialogue, quiz session, art camp, pledge signing session and mime performance, all of which have thematically sought to emphasize the importance of valuing women and girls in everyday life. H.E Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Norwegian Ambassador in Bangladesh; Kristine Blokhus, UNFPA Country Representative in Bangladesh; Dr. Mahbuba Nasreen, Professor, Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka; Ladly K. Faiz, Executive Director, Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) and other dignitaries graced the event.
“I have seen my mother do everything in our house for as long as I can remember. She was taking care of me and siblings. She was cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry, sometimes all at once, as it was expected in a large family like ours. She also taught at a nearby school, and was a strong voice in most issues plaguing our community. She never had a moment's rest or gratitude from other family members. And my sisters and I were all expected to perform similar duties, simply because we were girls. Now in hindsight, I cannot believe how undervalued we were in our own family, and continue to be by society at large. This has got to stop,” said one young participant.
“Aside from the harmful gendered norms, I think, the neglect of daughters in this country has a lot to do with the lack of women's legal and political rights. So, this issue here is as much cultural as it is political. On top of a social movement to change people's perceptions, we need a real grass-roots political movement as well as the integration of youth into formal decision making processes,” said another.
A mother of two said, “So far, I have achieved more or less of everything that I wanted to. Yet, sometimes I can't help but wonder what would have happened if, as a child, I was as valued as my brothers, if my parents told me now and then that I was enough, that I was loved.”
“But I am at least glad that we are finally having these conversations, which, hopefully will be translated into sustainable action,” she added.
The “Celebrating Daughters” campaign began on October 11, 2022, and concluded on November 23, 2022, having engaged and mobilized around twenty five thousand young people from different corners of Bangladesh.
