Bangladesh – A Woman in Power and Powerless Women?

By Stine Eckert

As Americans witnessed failure to elect their first female president in 2008, Bangladeshis elected a female prime minister past December for the fourth time. Sheik Hasina is one of 11 female heads of state worldwide according to the Council of Women World Leaders. But many of the roughly 76 million women in Bangladesh are still facing discrimination and violence.

“Women of Bangladesh are guaranteed equal rights in the constitution…in practice [they] generally remain far from enjoying equal rights,” responds Qumrunnessa Nazly in an e-mail interview. She works for Ain O Salish Kendro, an organization in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka that provides legal aid to women and advocates women rights.

She says women face discrimination in education, employment, and access to resources and services, in particular healthcare. The legal position of women, she explains, is still ruled by religious laws when it comes to inheritance, marriage, divorce, and child custody. Religious laws are privileged over constitutional guarantees, she says, working against the interest of women. Ms. Nazly says that secular state law is also highly patriarchal and discriminatory. Some have not changed since colonial rule.

“Women are part of the patriarchy and they are trained by men,” writes Ayesha Banu, Chair of the Department for Women & Gender Studies at Dhaka University in an e-mail interview. “Elections don’t really follow the democratic process; inheritance plays a role,” she says. “Just because you are a woman doesn’t make you a good woman leader.”

Ms Nazly explains that attitudes in society still stand against gender equality. Very often women are not aware of their rights, she says. “Even when they are, women who depend on male protection are convinced that it’s not in their best interests to claim those rights.”

Concluding the first Universal Periodic Review for Bangladesh this February, the United Nations Human Rights Council urged the Government of Bangladesh to reform discriminatory laws and to take a comprehensive approach to violence against women. Ain o Salish Kendro raised other concerns such as the continued failure to advance the National Women’s Development Policy of 2008 and to enact existing laws to prevent and punish especially domestic violence. The 2007 Human Rights Report on Bangladesh states that up to 50 percent of Bangladeshi women have experienced domestic violence at least once that year.

Similarly, Dr. Gitiara Nasreen, a journalism professor at Dhaka University, writes in an e-mail interview that despite the creation of a separate Ministry of Women in 1979 and formulation a National Women’s Development Policy in 1997 no specific action has followed. The policy, she says, was changed again in 2004 and 2008 but “has been talked about more than it was acted upon.”

Part of the problem is the low visibility of women in media. In her 2005 report on Women and the Media for the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Dr. Nasreen writes only 6 percent of Bangladeshi journalists are women. In Bangladeshi media, she writes, women appear mostly as victims in the news or in entertainment shows. Especially Bangladeshi movies portrayed women as sexual objects with “submissive acceptance of physical violence.” Dr. Nasreen says that cruelty is often presented as a natural expression of ‘angry’ man.

An exception to this might be Sisimpur, the Bangladeshi version of Sesame Street. It is funded by the U.S. government agency for development aid (USAID), Harvey Sernovitz of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka writes in an e-mail interview. “Sisimpur shows women as role models and successful women in non-traditional professions for Bangladesh.”

Since 1971 the U.S. government has provided more than $5 billion to Bangladesh. “Gender equity has always been a key goal,” says Mr. Sernovitz. Currently USAID runs several programs to help women including projects against human trafficking and training for local level female leaders and 1,850 female preschool teachers.

Just recently Ms. Banu and her department celebrated International Women’s Day with a rally and open-air music. She says it is the only department of its kind in the country. About 300 undergraduate and graduate students study women and gender issues in 60 classes.
“[International Women’s Day] is very, very important in Bangladesh,” writes Sazzad Hussain, Program Coordinator at Odhikar in an e-mail interview. Odhikar is one of the leading NGOs in Bangladesh. He says March 8 is not only a universal day to stop violence against women but also a day for people to show solidarity.

Odhikar recently became runner-up for the 2008 Freedom Defenders Award of the U.S. State Department. The organization publishes monthly reports on human rights issues. They state that between January 2008 and February 2009 over 496 women and girls were raped and 80 women and 26 children became victims of acid attacks, which are often connected to refusing marriage or sexual relations. Another 297 women became victims of dowry related violence. Odhikar suggests actual numbers are even higher because only incidents that were reported could be counted.

Laws against these crimes exist but are poorly enforced. For instance almost 30 years ago, in 1980, the Dowry Prohibition Act made the taking or giving of dowry illegal. But a Bangladeshi student in the United States, who wants to remain anonymous, says in a phone interview giving dowries is still a common tradition. The student tells of the love marriage of an acquaintance from a higher social class. The parents of the groom asked the bride’s parents for about 100,000 Taka ($1,450) as dowry. Asked why dowry is a tradition even in families who don’t need money the student answers with a Bangladeshi proverb: In this world the person who wants the most, is the person who already has a lot.

Ms. Banu says the implementation of the National Women Development Policy should be a pressing issue for the new government. Dr. Nasreen concurs: “I can only hope the present government would put this issue in its priority.” After 12 years it still needs to be passed by the parliament.


Photo Top of the Page: Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
(Source: Image is a work of a U.S. military or Department of Defense employee, taken or made during the course of an employee's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain. http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/newsphoto.aspx?newsphotoid=3106)

Photo Middle of Article: Dance performed by Bangladeshi artists in honor of former US President Bill Clinton during his Bangladesh tour of March 2000.
(Source: This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code. http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/SouthAsia/photo_gallery/day_1/photo20.htm)

Latest Issue of THE GLOBETROTTER

The GLOBETROTTER is an international news and current affairs newsletter. The investigative special reports and other features in the second issue of 2009 are originally investigated, reported, written, edited, and published by students of the Foreign Correspondence class, in conjunction with the Institute for International Journalism at Ohio University. Click here to access the newsletter.

International Correspondents & Datelines
(Class of 2009)

Jeff Bennett - BRAZIL
Carolin Biebrach - TURKEY
Natalie Cammarata - ITALY
Yilei Cheng - INDIA
Sally Cruikshank - QATAR
Aerin Curtis - ZIMBABWE
Kristin Eckert - BANGLADESH
Jung Lee - SOUTH KOREA
Cristina Mutchler - COLOMBIA
Ellen Schnier - UGANDA
Celia Shortt - CAMBODIA
Lu Tang - PERU
Michael Barajas - LEBANON
Jacqueline Best - FRANCE
Maria Fisher - KENYA
David Flores - REP. OF GEORGIA
Michael Hess - JORDAN
Natalie Jovonovich - SERBIA-MONTENEGRO
Meghan McNamara - CHILE
Taylor Mirfendereski - IRAN
Emily Mullin - SIERRA LEONE
Veronica Norton - D. R. CONGO
Gregory Stephens - RUSSIA

Interview with Jason Motlagh, International Journalist

Interview by Cristina Mutchler,
Institute for International Journalism


Jason Motlagh talks about his experiences as an international correspondent.

More from Jason Motlagh

Jason Motlagh is an international freelance journalist currently based in Washington D.C. He studied Foreign Affairs in college and upon graduating from his university spent time as a fisherman in Alaska. Journalism was a career that he later fell into. 

“At the time, it seemed like a chance where I could explore a lot of different fields and have access to a lot of different people and places,” Motlagh said. “It was a vehicle that would give me greater mobility to pursue things more in depth. That’s ultimately why I decided to pursue it.”

He got his start in the profession by securing journalism internships.

“I really just learned by doing. I was very rough in the beginning, but had easy access to seasoned professionals who I could learn from. There was a real immediacy when I was learning so I think that whole process was accelerated and I picked up the trade very quickly,” Motlagh said.

Motlagh has reported from about 35 countries. He started his career in West Africa and has extensively covered Central Asia and the Mideast. Over the past two years he has spent a significant amount of time covering the war on the ground in Afghanistan.

To hear from Motlagh about his experiences as a freelance journalist and to gain some advice about freelance and international reporting, watch the exclusive interview with him below.

Giving Voice to the Oppressed

Edited by Lu Tang
by Ellen Schnier

Photo Courtesy of Melbournegraffiti.com

Economic disparity is what drives people to want change. Those who have been oppressed by either the government or another group react most strongly when they are not able to put a roof over their families' heads or provide ample food. In covering stories involving such skirmishes, simply covering the issues of poverty, homelessness, and the hungry bring it to light. These types of stories rarely make it into the news, let alone the front page.

Reporting on the many people affected by war as individuals, as opposed to a general overview of the conflict, gives voice to the underrepresented. In any country, seeking out sources to fill in the gaps and contextualize the war provides readers with full information about the nature of the crisis. It is the details and personal stories that capture the interest of the public. If, for instance, a middle class American sits and reads about an international war in the newspaper, offered only the details of battle, he will not understand or be moved by the situations of the poor. It is a journalist's responsibility to raise awareness of the world's poor, especially those in Third World countries. The only way to tangibly improve the lives of those in dire poverty is through investigation and exposure, which would lead to action.

Throughout this course, I have become aware of the issues that exist in other countries. Through beat report presentations, I have learned so much about other nations--what their economic and cultural problems are, and story ideas to bring some of these issues to light. In addition, the videos we have watched and critiqued have given us a new sensitivity for working in such countries. Jim Nachtwey, for example, has made it his life's work to address the needs of the poor and has risked his life to tell the stories of the underrepresented. He serves as an example of finding the underlying story and not settling for the position of the government and the details of each crisis. He humanizes each story in hope of bringing changes in the system of economic inequality.

Though some of these stories may be out of line with the U.S. government's official foreign policy positions, the United States has a freedom of the press that allows for dissension. Because of that, journalists can enlighten those with uninformed, nationalist thinking, to help the world's poor. In the past, stories that bring to light tough issues, such as economic oppression, have led to reexamination around the world. In the future, we as journalists must continue this cultural and economic examination in support of those who cannot speak for themselves.

Important Stories for the World

Edited by Lu Tang
by Celia Shortt

Photo courtesy of Book For Third World

As a future international correspondent, the first way I would help make tangible improvements in the lives of the underrepresented people in whatever area I am in would be to represent that group accurately to my audience. The first step in change is making people aware of what needs to be changed. Audiences may not be aware of issues pertaining to certain groups. Knowing those issues can bring about the change that is needed. I have learned through this class that every person, no matter how poor, no matter the government’s interest or disinterest, has a story to tell. Each of those stories has the power to impact people all over the world. Just because a person or group of people is poor does not mean that what they are going through is not important. International correspondents should not let government’s interest or any other factors of that nature stop them from telling these stories.

Mission

Edited by Ellen Schnier

by Lu Tang

Photo courtesy of World Prout Assembly

The most powerful weapon journalists hold is communication. In order to make tangible improvements in the lives of the underrepresented people in the Third World, journalists should make full use of this tool —to bring information both into and out of the Third World. Give people in the Third World information that will help to develop their countries. At the same time, tell people in developed nations how those in the Third World are living. Draw attention to the Third World and gather elites around the world to work together to help address problems like poverty and inequality.

The more I learn, the more I feel that there aren’t black and white answers to covering global inequality. A journalist may not fully contextualize a topic like poverty because he is affected by his own nationality and background. It is a journalists’ mission, however, to promote the interests of or give a voice to the world’s poorest, even when those interests are not supported by official positions and nationalist thinking. This is one of the things that inspired me to become a journalist. It’s easy to idealize but hard to practice. If a global issue you want to cover is in opposition to your nation’s interests, you may be convicted to report it, but you may decline due to national pressure.

Conversely, just because it is in the interests of your country, it may not be in the interests of the news organization you serve. For instance, since some Third-World stories do not attract enough ad dollars and are therefore excluded from publication.

Covering such issues can be very dangerous as well. In August, 2008, a female journalism student in England was raped while trying to conduct an interview in a makeshift camp in Calais by immigrants attempting to reach Britain. This is a very extreme case, but it is important to be careful when investigating such stories. All these factors contribute to the difficulty in covering inequality in underdeveloped nations, but as journalists, it is our duty to persevere for the benefit of the global society.

Raising Awareness Where it is Needed

Edited by Ellen Schnier
by Sally Ann Cruikshank

Photo Courtesy of UNICEF

I believe that as international correspondents, or even as domestic journalists, it is important to raise awareness where it needs to be raised. I think the best way to do that is to give people who are not underrepresented or stricken with poverty tangible evidence that can put the situation into perspective. Take for example the Indonesian family in the documentary we watched who lived next to the railroad tracks. Just telling someone that a poor family lives next to the railroad tracks is not enough. Showing that image of the man with one arm and one leg with his small children sleeping next to oncoming trains, however, is powerful. It's an image that doesn't easily leave your mind. That kind of awareness can lead to change and improvements for the underrepresented.

I think in order to represent the world's poorest, you must first respect them. I believe that respect for others is the most important part of being a journalist. No matter what someone's situation in life is, he needs to be treated like a human being. As for U.S. interests, I believe that a journalist should leave those policies at the door as best as possible. A journalist's job is to bring injustices to light, no matter what country or government is behind them.

Underreported Issues and Regions

Edited by Ellen Schnier
by Kristin Eckert

As an international correspondent, the task should be to report on underreported issues and regions so that step by step with continuous coverage, awareness of problems and their causes is created among a larger (international) public. Studies have shown that public opinion can shape foreign policy.

Reporting about the economic and social conditions of poor people and creating a context on how they contribute to ethnic and religious conflict will demonstrate to the public how seemingly unrelated issues are connected. By exposing these links and keeping the topic alive in the media, a public debate can create pressure resulting in action by a (foreign) government, NGO, or even individuals to help. The role of the international journalist is to find and cover underreported issues and regions, to investigate the underlying causes of conflicts, and to report continuously to raise public (international) awareness.

Reporting about the hopes and concerns of Bangladeshis for their new government has shown me that their concerns are very basic: peace, better Internet, lower food prices, more investment into education, and freedom of speech. The mission of the U.S. government to Bangladesh concentrates on stability, democracy, and denying space to terrorists. Only one person in my survey among six Bangladeshis mentioned terrorism as a concern, however, all talked about food and freedom of speech. It is important to listen to citizens and experts who have different interests than the U.S. government or their own country's administration.

Apart from this discrepancy, ethnicity and religion are often not contained within national or geographic boundaries. Because of that, governments can only represent a geographically defined country and maybe a nation. Not every nationality, ethnicity, or religion that lives in their territory, however, is represented by an administration. This also applies to gender in some cases. As an international journalist, it is crucial to speak to groups who represent different identities that reflect the make up of a region in addition to government sources to give a more authentic picture of a (power) struggle.

Photo courtesy of Voice of Bangladesh

How Foreign Correspondents Can Help the War Against Poverty?

Edited by Celia Shortt
Picture by Jonathan McIntosh, Creative Commons
Give a Voice to the Voiceless
In Third World countries, people do not have a way to speak. They are powerless. Foreign correspondents can give them a voice to the world.
- Jacqueline Best

In some cases of the work of journalists has generated donations from readers and has inspired campaigns to redress the situation. To me, giving a a voice to the voiceless is one of the primary ethical concerns of journalists. - Meghan McNamara

Reporting is about doing the right thing, being a voice for those who do not have one, and bringing to light the flaws of the government. To accomplish these things, however, reporters have to be extremely cautious and cunning. - Veronica Norton

Accurate Representation and Awareness
As a foreign correspondent, you have an advantage, as you have an opportunity to immerse yourself in one's lifestyle and really observe the conditions in which they live.
- Taylor Mirfendereski

Spreading awareness and giving voices to the voiceless are probably the most important things you can do as a journalist. You create an outlet of communication from that person's life to the outside world. - Emily Mullin

Equip the Global Audience
It is our job to inform people about relevant social issues and allow the audience to make decisions regarding how to improve these problems. - David Flores

International journalists have to tread carefully on topics, but it is important that they stand their ground. There are duties to be fulfilled by these journalists and responsibilities to the global community which produce news that essentially shapes the world in which we live.
- Halle Tansing

We, as foreign correspondents, are not just writing for the American public. We are writing for a global audience. Even if your story does not get published in a large publication, there are hundred of other publications in countries that can make a difference. - Michael Hess