Md Khaled Bin Chowdhury :
If we ask the husbands of the only house- wife spouses whether their counterparts do any job, they all will naturally reply that their wives do not do anything! But only look after family. Many of them do not realize that looking after family is a noble job imbued with the spirit of humanity. We think that only the paid work is a job, a profession. But, the household works done by our female counterparts are definitely very important for our society and civilization. Our spouses, mothers, sisters, daughters all partake in these works. The well-being of our family and society largely depends on the invaluable but unrecognised works and sacrifice of these female folks.
We consider their work as invaluable because we do not have to pay any remuneration for their sacrifice. Actually this kind of negligence is tantamount to denying the contribution of women to society. This kind of denial is like committing crime to our women folk as Bernard Shaw says in Devil’s Disciple, “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That’s the essence of inhumanity.”
A workingwoman also has to perform most of the household works. Sometimes it amounts to almost 16 hours a day. Most of them do not have any rest in their daily lives. Such household works as, teaching children, looking after the male members of the family, preparing food, looking after domestic animals, farming are the responsibilities of women in our society. Women living in rural areas have to do some more extra works.
In the third world countries, these works of women have no recognition from their male counterparts and government.
On the other hand, in the developed first world countries and Western societies, both men and women share household works. In those societies the mentality of ‘sharing and caring’ has uplifted the dignity of women.
A recent survey shows that nearly 81 per cent of our women are directly engaged in household works and the contribution of this household work to the national economy is almost 63 thousand crore taka annually.
But, if women are paid for their household works, they will be economically empowered. If we can empower our women, the country will be properly developed.
Kafi Annan says, “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
Women through their household works are contributing a lot to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
If the contribution of this household work can be recognised, the dignity of women in family and society will immensely rise. Consequently, there will be a dramatic plummeting in the rate of domestic violence to women.
The National Women Development Policy 2011 emphasized on the recognition of the role of agricultural and household works of women in the socio-economic development of the country. Though the recognition of the household work of women in the national development is definitely a huge leap forward in the empowerment of women of Bangladesh, still mass people cannot realise the importance.
The Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan (1999) also asks for the recognition of household work done by women and a cutback in their workload. Recently the Finance Minister, Abul Maal A Muhith said in a seminar that the household work of our women has not got recognition economically. This recognition is to be achieved internationally. A country alone cannot give this recognition. He also said that if this work is recognized from family, the calculation of economy will change on the one hand and the women will reach a dignified position in society on the other.
What is most important is that we the male population has to be aware about the importance of the household work done by our counterparts. We should at least recognise their contribution. If we can do it, there will be a huge cutback in the rate of domestic violence to women and their dignity as human beings will be uplifted. We must not forget that the dignity of a nation lies in the dignity of all its members. If we keep on dragging our womenfolk down, how will ours be uplifted? So, to wind up in tune with the British poet Tennyson, “The women’s cause is men, they rise or sink together.” n
If we ask the husbands of the only house- wife spouses whether their counterparts do any job, they all will naturally reply that their wives do not do anything! But only look after family. Many of them do not realize that looking after family is a noble job imbued with the spirit of humanity. We think that only the paid work is a job, a profession. But, the household works done by our female counterparts are definitely very important for our society and civilization. Our spouses, mothers, sisters, daughters all partake in these works. The well-being of our family and society largely depends on the invaluable but unrecognised works and sacrifice of these female folks.
We consider their work as invaluable because we do not have to pay any remuneration for their sacrifice. Actually this kind of negligence is tantamount to denying the contribution of women to society. This kind of denial is like committing crime to our women folk as Bernard Shaw says in Devil’s Disciple, “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That’s the essence of inhumanity.”
A workingwoman also has to perform most of the household works. Sometimes it amounts to almost 16 hours a day. Most of them do not have any rest in their daily lives. Such household works as, teaching children, looking after the male members of the family, preparing food, looking after domestic animals, farming are the responsibilities of women in our society. Women living in rural areas have to do some more extra works.
In the third world countries, these works of women have no recognition from their male counterparts and government.
On the other hand, in the developed first world countries and Western societies, both men and women share household works. In those societies the mentality of ‘sharing and caring’ has uplifted the dignity of women.
A recent survey shows that nearly 81 per cent of our women are directly engaged in household works and the contribution of this household work to the national economy is almost 63 thousand crore taka annually.
But, if women are paid for their household works, they will be economically empowered. If we can empower our women, the country will be properly developed.
Kafi Annan says, “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
Women through their household works are contributing a lot to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
If the contribution of this household work can be recognised, the dignity of women in family and society will immensely rise. Consequently, there will be a dramatic plummeting in the rate of domestic violence to women.
The National Women Development Policy 2011 emphasized on the recognition of the role of agricultural and household works of women in the socio-economic development of the country. Though the recognition of the household work of women in the national development is definitely a huge leap forward in the empowerment of women of Bangladesh, still mass people cannot realise the importance.
The Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan (1999) also asks for the recognition of household work done by women and a cutback in their workload. Recently the Finance Minister, Abul Maal A Muhith said in a seminar that the household work of our women has not got recognition economically. This recognition is to be achieved internationally. A country alone cannot give this recognition. He also said that if this work is recognized from family, the calculation of economy will change on the one hand and the women will reach a dignified position in society on the other.
What is most important is that we the male population has to be aware about the importance of the household work done by our counterparts. We should at least recognise their contribution. If we can do it, there will be a huge cutback in the rate of domestic violence to women and their dignity as human beings will be uplifted. We must not forget that the dignity of a nation lies in the dignity of all its members. If we keep on dragging our womenfolk down, how will ours be uplifted? So, to wind up in tune with the British poet Tennyson, “The women’s cause is men, they rise or sink together.” n
(Md Khaled Bin Chowdhury teaches English language and literature at BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong)
