In Bangladesh, liberal feminism has long been perceived as centring on the secular, urban woman as its ideal.
For much of Bangladesh's history, women have been relegated to domestic roles, where their duties defined their worth as wives and mothers.
People of the Indian subcontinent, especially those in Bengal, never accepted European colonial rule.
Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was an autodidact who became a formidable champion of women’s rights and education when women in South Asia, especially Muslim women, were forced to live in subhuman conditions, almost like animals, or even worse than animals
We have seen that women who are able to helm a country are often able to do so through their associations with powerful men.
Given the theme of inspiring inclusion, it's imperative to ask: does academic research sufficiently inspire inclusion?
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (online), the first known use of the term ‘feminism’–
As long as the problems addressed in Sultana’s Dream continue to exist and be relevant, we must uphold Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s work, values, and ideologies
In some ways, Sharatchandra places the blame for Devdas's ensuing sorrow on his lack of courage, made all the more noticeable in comparison to Parbati's courage in breaking social norms despite the dire consequences it could have for her.
Despite his caste-consciousness and critical depiction of the social prejudices of colonial Bengal, he never directly opposed them; in his real life, he was an upholder of traditional Hindu patriarchy and Brahmin-dominated caste society.
The way we perceive the word “emotion” through the gendered lens contributes to systematic oppression because it dismisses those who fall under the umbrella of the emotional radar and it is easier to silence their voices as emotional beings because they are often, according to the patriarchal society, deemed as unstable, illogical, or disoriented.
Feminism and literature share a profound connection as literature gives voice to the experiences of women, allowing us to understand their perspective. However, despite the abundance of information in the technological age, the promotion of feminist books remains a challenge in Bangladesh, often facing criticism from conservatives.
Nazmunnessa Mahtab has written a quite all-encompassing book on women and gender issues.
The "not all men” argument can be futile for a lot of reasons, the most important being a disruption in the discourse.
Amid all the media which hyper-sexualises women and puts them into boxes, Studio Ghibli movies feel like a breath of fresh air.
Schwartz’s narrator speaks in the choral “we”, and like a daisy chain, they connect all these women’s shared yet individual experiences of feeling closed in, being violated, feeling misunderstood by society, until they all shed their names and managed to “escap[e] the century”.
It’s about finding how we can defeat patriarchy together.
The collection comprises essays, poetry, short fiction, feature pieces, interviews, research reports, and photographs and artwork that explore the physical, psychological and political experiences of menstruation across South Asia.
The government is better than any other nation in supporting single mothers. Parental leave is generous, and the choices and decisions by all are respected.
