Int’l Women’s Day Gender Biased Policy Must Stop

Wares Ali Khan & Faruk Hossain :

The International Women’s Day is observed on 8 March every year and the theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge which signifies the importance of challenging biases and misconceptions in the interest of creating a more inclusive and gender equal world. On the day many pioneer feminists, social activists and right-bodies advocate on behalf of women’s rights and dignity, raise their voice loud with a view to promoting women’s lives and self-images. The observance of the day inspires women to protest against injustices, exploitation, and prevailing malpractice within the societies as well as strengthen to break the social barriers that discriminate against them globally.
The unwavering theme of #IWD2021 implies that a challenged world is an alert world and from challenges comes change. Therefore to choose challenges for changes and forming awareness against biases- will help women forge a gender equal world, celebrate their achievement, broaden their horizons by sustaining lives to economic, social and political avenues.
Control over the use of income of women is a burning question. Influence on the participation of women in agriculture has been a matter of dismay. Diverse social and religious barriers cut back women in many ways to be involved in the field of agriculture. Discouragement from parents, in-laws, and society leads to another form of barrier for women to be implicated in the work-field particularly in rural areas.
Women from different walks of life still live in fear of frequent physical violence, and endure domestic exploitation, sexual assaults, verbal abuses, and other extreme sorts of distressing issues in society. Domestic violence has its roots in socio-cultural norms and practices. Condoned by religion and tradition are another manifestation of patriarchy that thrives on unequal power relations within the family and stems from the pervasive belief that men are superior to women and therefore have the right to control every aspect of their lives.
To promote the total well-being, safety, security, sustainability, participation, and recognition in the socio-economic and political domain, and to turn women as an agent of positive and integral changes like their male counterparts, the following substantial aspects need to be addressed befittingly.
Gender mainstreaming is subject to ensure practical measures through executing necessary plans and enforcing best practice of policies regarding women’s rights and dignity. Gender-based violence must come to an end with a view to guaranteeing women of their holistic safety and comprehensive wellbeing. Managing requisite education and active involvement in formal professional environments, business, innovation and entrepreneurship have to be assured for them.
Decision making power is a long-discussed and vital issue which has to deliberately come into reality in all spheres of women’s life. Recognition of household chores, determination of economic and monetary value must be ascertained. Political status should be comprehended and integrated. Formulation and implementation of women friendly down-the-line policies and rights-based plans have to be enforced pragmatically. Addressing a grand awareness on upholding constitutional rights and privileges for women might be accomplished appositely.
Half of our entire population are women. Leaving them lagged behind, putting them waiting in the queues of disparity, violence, suppression, victimization and dominance- no society can imagine a healthy and balanced progress. Therefore, on the ground of observance of the International Women’s Day, we have to vow so as our entire women folk can be entitled to honor and dignity, safety and security, and can keep constant momentum in the line of country’s continual gross development living in a gender sensitive abode.

(Mr. Khan is an educationist and Mr. Hossain corporate executive).