Sexual Harassment of Women in Trishal : Reasons and Remedies
Jatiya Kabi Kazi
Nazrul Islam University Research
Society (JKKNIURS)
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University
Overview of the Research Proposal
01. Title: Sexual Harassment
of Women in Trishal: Reasons and Remedies
02.
Name and address of the Researcher:
Tanjil Ahmed, Student of MSS, Department of Public Administration and Governance
Studies, Contact No: 01687122552, Email: tanjilahmedtaj@gmail.com
03. Nature of the research proposal: Social Science Studies
04. Name and address(s) of collaborating department (s)/institute(s): Department of Public Administration
and Governance Studies, JKKNIU
05. Duration of research proposal (months): 2019- 2020
06. Total budget of research proposal (tk.): 86,800/=
07. Has this proposal been submitted to any other agency for financial assistance?
Not yet
08. Is there any commitment of other research
project(s) as principal investigator/team leader? No
09. Certification of
authorship:
“I
hereby certify that I am the author of this
document and any assistance I received in preparing this proposal is fully
acknowledged. I have also cited all sources from which I obtained ideas, data
and words. I am aware that
plagiarism will lead to the cancellation of the application”.
Tanjil
Ahmed
Researcher
Student
of MSS
Department
of Public Administration and Governance Studies,
JKKNIU
Table of Content
S.L No. |
Name of the topics |
Page No. |
1.
|
Introduction |
3-3 |
2.
|
Background
of the study |
4-4 |
3.
|
Objectives
of the Study |
5-5 |
4.
|
Research Questions
|
5-5 |
5.
|
Statement
of the problem |
6-6 |
6.
|
Significance
of the Study |
6-6 |
7.
|
Literature Review |
7-8 |
8.
|
Theoretical framework: |
9-10 |
9.
|
Conceptual
Framework |
11-14 |
10.
|
Research Methodology |
14-16 |
11.
|
Ethical Consideration |
17-17 |
12.
|
Tentative time Frame |
18-18 |
13.
|
References |
19-20 |
14.
|
Budget Summary |
21-21 |
"Sexual Harassment of Women in Trishal: Reasons and Remedies"
1.
Introduction
Now a day’s sexual harassment is
a social curse in developing countries especially in Bangladesh. Women are not
safe at any place. From the viewpoint of discrimination,
Sexual harassment is tranquil of three categories of behavior: gender harassment (verbal
and nonverbal behaviors that carry aggression, objectification, rejection, or
second-class status about members of one gender), unwanted sexual attention (verbal
or physical unwelcome sexual advances, which can include assault), and sexual coercion (when
favorable professional or educational treatment is conditioned on sexual
activity). Harassing behavior can be either direct (targeted at an individual)
or ambient (a the general level of sexual harassment in an environment)
2.
Background of the study
In spite of being the members of civilized
society,, most of the modern people are devoid of the core philosophy of
moralism. Injustice and barbarism are on the triumph mood; moral ethics are
rare to find out and so, exploitations and dominating attitudes have become the
prime weapon to deteriorating the global peace-loving communities' harmonious
life. Sexual harassment is a common phenomenon in the recent world. And Bangladesh
is not also excluded from this. It is a social disaster for our country; hence
it is a social crime like all other crimes in Bangladesh Here, an incident like
sexual harassment has become a deep-rooted common phenomenon for more than a
decade in Bangladesh. Lack of effective policy and legislative framework
against sexual harassment is the most visible common cause in Bangladesh
and for that reason, a great number of innocent girls and women have become the
easiest victim to the ill-mined honey seeker-the so-called opportunists.
According to a recent study called " Freedom to Move: Women's experience
of urban public transport in Bangladesh " conducted by Action Aid
Bangladesh revealed that 84% of all women commuters surveyed said they were
subjected to verbal and physical sexual harassment
3.
Objectives of the study
The broad objective of this study is to find out the reasons and remedies of sexual
harassment against women in Bangladesh.
The
specific objectives are
a) to analyze the existing situation of
sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh.
b) to identify the factors that
influence to do such heinous activities.
c) to evaluate how far women feel free
in our society as well as the country.
d) to make some suggestions for eradicating sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh.
4. Research questions
A.
What is the existing situation of sexual harassment of women in
Bangladesh?
a) Do women face unsafe outside the home?
B. What are the factors that influence
to do such heinous activities against women?
a) Does our cultural system support
women's employment?
b) Have any strict laws against women's violence?
C. How far do women feel free in our society as
well as the country?
a) Have any instant protection measures initiatives against women violence?
D. What are the suggestions for eradicating
sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh?
a) Does our current women's protection
policy ensure women's safety?
b) Do we need formal and academic ethical education to ensure women's dignity?
5.
Statement of the problem
Bangladesh as a developing country, women possess a considerable percentage of our total population. But it is apparent that women are in the most vulnerable situations because of many problems of which sexual harassment is mentioned most. The impact of sexual harassment is huge in both individual and national life. In fact, within the patriarchal social fabric, sexual harassment is a weapon to weaken, hurt, or force women to consign to domestic affairs. It is a social crime. It’s a curse for our society. It restricts women's mobility in the public sphere, which contributes to their diminishing participation in outdoor activities. There is an increasing realization that sexual harassment is a huge threat to women's empowerment. Nevertheless, in Bangladesh, there is no strong law to prevent sexual harassment. To solve the problem, it is essential to know how government initiatives and public concern should protect the child, girls, and women from harassment and ensure the freedom of women in our society as well as the country. In this context, the appropriate research topic is “Sexual Harassment of Women in Trishal: Reasons and Remedies.”
6.
Significance of the Study
In Bangladesh, sexual violence against harassment of women are a burning question which affects our society, women empowerment, and socio-economic development. In this context, women demand much attention and attachment, devotion, and perseverance to save and secure themselves. Whereas a comprehensive awareness will save our women, properly formulated and implemented laws can only eliminate sexual abuse in Bangladesh. This research will provide comprehensive suggestions that can be used to eliminate and eradicate sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh. Extensive research is continuously conducting on this topic throughout the world, but in Bangladesh, no holistic research has done to contribute to updating knowledge in this area. Therefore, the contribution of this research is very relevant, significant and pragmatic for the security of women in Bangladesh.
7.
Literatures Review
Sexual harassment is an unwanted behavior which is conducted
by men to women or men to men or women to women or women to men. Both men and
women can be endangered to sexual harassment, but women are much more likely to
be affected by it due to the unequal gender relations prevalent in many
societies. In Bangladesh, women are the main victim of sexual harassment.
Overwhelming majority of women, who are going outside from their home every day
for education, work or for other needs, are being sexually harassed by men
every day. Hundreds of women are raped and sexually assaulted every year.
Incidents of sexual harassment are increasing day by day
Further, Syed Saad
Andaleeb, Simeen Mahmud, Fahmida Saadia Rahman studied on sexual harassment
of women in public transport. They showed 35 per cent respondents using public
transport faced sexual harassment from males belonging to the age group of
19-35 years. Around 59 per cent respondents faced such harassment from the
males who are 26-40 years old. The forms of sexual harassment experienced by
the respondents include deliberate touching of victim's body with chest and
other parts of the body, pinching, standing too close to the victim and
pushing, touching of hair of the victims, putting hand on their shoulder,
touching private parts of the victims
Ahmed
Najmul Hussain also delineated the
scenario of Sexual Harassment of Women. In his study, he illustrated that,
sexual harassment on road and public transport. Students and teachers informed
on the issues of road safety and sexual harassment risk on road and it is
needed to take steps to raise people’s capacity of preventing such incidents'
Another time F. Begum,
R. N. Ali, M.A. Hossain, Sonia B. Shahid directed a study on
Sexual harassment of women at working place. They argued that the main source
of mental stress for female workers is sexual harassment at working
environment. The occurrence of sexual harassment ranges from insults directed
at a person’s gender, suggestive comments, or language, and demeaning remarks
to unwelcome touching and grabbing and other physical assaults. These types of
sexual harassment are not reported since female workers feel very shy to
disclose any information on this subject. Moreover, unmarried workers were
afraid of disclosing any information on sexual harassment since it decreases
their marriage possibility. The survey showed that only 2 percent of female
workers encountered with sexual harassment in the working place
Moreover, Taqbir
Huda conducted a survey on Law of Sexual Harassment. In his study he argued that in 2018
BNWLA along with eight other organizations jointly submitted a draft law titled
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2018 to the law ministry, which formalizes the
2009 guidelines and imposes a statutory obligation on all organizations to have
Sexual Harassment Complaint Committees. This sexual harassment law has been
magnified in the aftermath of Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s heinous murder, since many
argued that it is precisely the lack of a Sexual Harassment Complaint Committee
in the Sonargaon Madrasa (owing to absence of legislation mandating it) that
impeded Nusrat’s ability to seek recourse against the accused principal which
in turn prolonged her ordeal
Rana Dutta
exhibit a study under the title of “Sexual Harassment: Enough is enough”. In
his study, he articulated the government role, reforming existing laws,
anti-harassment policy with a view to preventing sexual harassment of women
from Bangladesh. Regarding his study, he further explained the role of NGOs in
Bangladesh to protect the women and child from harassment and ensure the
freedom of movement of them
While these studies focused on the overall Sexual Harassment in Bangladesh, there are clearly lack of studies to identify the functional reasons and remedies of Sexual Harassment of Women in Bangladesh. There is an urgent need to develop a model applied reasons and remedies of Sexual Harassment of Women in Bangladesh. Moreover, in Bangladesh no studies have previously focused on pragmatic reasons and remedies of Sexual Harassment of Women in Bangladesh. Hence, this study focuses on ascertain the pragmatic reasons and remedies of Sexual Harassment of Women in Bangladesh. Despite there are other causes of harassment, this research paper only deals with practical causes of sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh and the process of remedies. The researcher contemplate that, this study will minimize the gap between the theoretical and practical remedies of sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh.
8.
Theoretical framework
Currently,
Sexual Harassment is much concern issues in Bangladesh. It is a social crime and is a blasphemy for our society. However,
numbers of term are related to this study. With a view to empathetic the entire
concept, relevant term are citing here.
Canadian
Human Rights Commission demonstrates, Harassment is a form of discrimination. It includes
any unwanted physical or verbal behavior that offends or humiliates you.
Generally, harassment is a behavior that persists over time. Serious one-time
incidents can also sometimes be considered harassment
In
this regard, the European Parliament has illustrated, where an unwanted conduct
related to the sex of a person occurs with the purpose or effect of violating
the dignity of a person, and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading,
humiliating or offensive environment is called sexual harassment
Similarly
BLAST defined, “Sexual harassment as attempts or efforts to establish physical
relation having sexual implication by abuse of administrative, authoritative or
professional powers, Sexually colored verbal representation, Demand or request
for sexual favors, Showing pornography and Indecent gesture, teasing through
abusive language, stalking, joking having sexual implication etc.
Additionally, Eve-teasing is the related term of this study.
Daily Sun articulated that, “Eve teasing is seemingly euphemism term used to
describe street harassment in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries. It is
one of the most prevalent and brutal form of sexual harassment, usually on the
streets and public places. It has reached such an alarming proportion that many
girls committed suicide in the past few years
Also,
Véronique Morin states about psychological harassment that as any vexatious
behavior (having the character of a vexation, namely conduct that vexes,
mistreats, harms, humiliates, according to various dictionaries), verbal
comments, actions or gestures that are; - repeated; and - hostile or unwanted
etc. (Section 81.18 of the LSA)
Physical abuse happens when a person uses physical force
against another person. Physical abuse can start slowly and inconspicuously,
for example with throwing an object or a slap, and get more intense or worse
over time. Physical abuse includes shaking, slapping, pushing, punching or scratching, kicking, spitting
or biting, trying to strangle or choke,
using weapons and physical
restraint e.g. pinning against the wall or bed etc.
The term sexual assault denotes,
sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim.
Some forms of sexual assault include, attempted rape, fondling or unwanted
sexual touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or
penetrating the perpetrator’s body, penetration of the victim’s body, also
known as rape
However, Trafficking
and Women
Trafficking
is another concerning issue in this setting where trafficking involves the
transport or trade of people within and across borders for the purpose of
forcing them into slavery conditions. Trafficking is a serious violation of
human rights
9.
Scope and limitations of the study
The
primary focus of this research is on the reasons and remedies of sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh. The research
will be conducted mainly on Trishal Upazila. The area of the study excludes the
overall sexual violence against women at every place like home. Moreover, this
study will consider only the sexual harassment of women at working environment,
public transport, and street. Other violence against women of different segment are not the targeted discussion issue here.
Rather, this study will explore how can eliminate and prevent sexual harassment
of women. However, this research topic is almost the critical issue as a
developing country, the lack of proper knowledge and experience may hinder to
conduct this research. Moreover the unavailable access to information also may
create barrier while conducting the research. The budget is not sufficient to
explore the latest area on this issue which has not been conducted yet in our
country.
10. Conceptual Framework
As the main attachment of this study is to identify the applied reasons and remedies of sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh. This segment illustrated the conceptual framework of the study where “sexual harassment of women” is the dependent variable and “reasons and remedies” is the independent variable. This study represented a model (figure: 1) for eliminating sexual harassment of women at all spheres in our society. The researcher mentioned that this model depicts some practical causes of sexual harassment of women and identified some steps of remedies. It is important to note that the process of eliminating sexual harassment as shown in the figure.
And then the researcher also showed some measures to stop sexual harassment which is shown in detail. Primarily awareness building among general people that helps to remove sexual harassment of women in a number of ways. When the people especially women and their family members aware of the sexual harassment, it easy to eliminate. Union Sapari argued that “Before women can start defending themselves, they need a deeper knowledge and understanding of this phenomenon,” Union Sapari also explained a statement on Georgia - “Harassment is very common in Georgia and it makes women feel unsafe. But it is so deep-rooted in everyday life that we barely notice it.
And then when you start
talking to women, almost everyone has a horrible story to tell.” Union Sapari
expected that the campaign will encourage more and more people to discard
sexual harassment whether unwanted sleazy comments or violent assaults – is
unacceptable
Researchers emphasize
that the government should enact sexual harassment related law and policy which
help to remove harassment at all level from our country. There are various laws on sexual
harassment, but those are scattered. Many victims do not go to police fearing
social upshot and lengthy process. So a new effective law is need to eradicate
sexual harassment institutionally. Already a platform of nine organizations has
been proposed a draft law to prevent sexual harassment. The platform also
submitted the draft consisting of a total of 24 sections to Law Minister Anisul
Huq and State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu earlier
on September 12. According to the
proposed law, every organization has to form a committee with 5-7 members where
victims will be able to lodge their complaints within 30 days in case of any
sexual harassment. The identity of the
complainant should remain confidential and after investigation, the committee
will suggest appropriate punishment for the offenders
Removing gender discrimination also
plays significant roles in eradicating sexual harassment of women in
Bangladesh. Gender discrimination at all
level like at educational institution, at workplace, at home, at public
transport should be removed. Glenn Jacobs said that it is high
time to pay attention to the ways that form gender in children's
upbringing. Children learn gender at an early age from the family and social
environment where little girls learn to play with dolls, little boys play with
trucks. Often, parents unsuspectingly encourage this type of gendered play,
even going so far as to discourage their child from playing with a toy that is
for the other gender. Additionally, it may encourage a boy to be more active
and a girl to play quietly. Each family should encourage its child to try all
of the things that it may like
The researcher thought that women have the power to help
their families and entire communities when they equipped with the proper
resources which help to fight against every violence against them like sexual
harassment. Additionally, educated women produce an educated family. It can be
said that empowerment is the total sum of changes needed for a woman to realize
her full human rights. It is not just about giving women training or a loan. It
is more than that. It means that relationships and social structures that shape
the lives of women and girls must change.
CARE Bangladesh argued that women empowerment is
motivated women exercising greater choice in decisions affecting their lives;
reduced violence against women: and the emergence of strong social movements
built on women's solidarity and collaborative participation of men
The researcher also thought that to eradicate sexual harassment of women at every level, it is essential to take other some important measures as like change the behavior of male people to female, morality development in society, ensure freedom of movement of women, ensure security for women, remove social prejudice about women, enhance freedom of thought, ensure quality education for all, emergency helpline for women, the establishment of ethical justice, women rehabilitation Centre, provide legal aid for women, introduce emergency action against harassment, deliver safe workplace, etc.
11. Research Methodology:
Relevant data will be collected using
both primary and secondary sources. The study will be conducted in a mixed
method approach: meaning it intends to apply both qualitative and quantitative
research methods which will include different participants and respondents of
study area.
Tools |
Who
and What |
Why |
||
Qualitative |
Content analysis (Literatures review) |
As part of the study, brief review of available
literature and government policies, articles, books, research papers and
other materials related to the research issues will be reviewed. |
To know the different initiatives and
previous study. |
|
KII |
Representative of Plan
International, UP representatives, UP officials
(Ups secretary), INGOs/NGOs |
To gather a detail and deep picture of
situation, total KII will be conducted. With the intention to understand the
realistic situation of research areas |
||
FGD
(FGD participants will include case study) |
Victims of women and selected women
understudy areas. |
To gather in-depth scenario |
||
Quantitative tool |
Interview (survey) |
258 women,
and girls, others (disable, orphan) |
To portraying the gross scenario of
the target areas and issues |
|
Women (married) |
86 |
|||
Girls (Unmarried) |
86 |
|||
Others (Orphan, disable-Married/Unmarried)
|
86 |
Table
1: Methodology
11.1 Sampling and Analysis Plan:
A totality of 258 respondents (86 women, 86 girls and others 86) will be selected from the inhabitants of three specific Union Parishads (Trishal Sadar, Boilar and Danikhola Unions) under Trishal Upazila. Collected data will be organized characteristically and the coding activities will be done manually. Prepared data will be analyzed statistically with data analysis software ‘MS Excel’ and ‘Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)’ and will be presented in the report accordingly. In the whole research process, ethical ground and confidentiality will be maintained strictly.
11.2 Sampling plan for the research is as follows:
Table 2: Sample Size for Survey
Division |
District |
Upazila
Parishad |
Union Parishad |
Criteria of
respondent |
No of
respondent in each UP |
Mymensingh |
Mymensingh |
Trishal |
1
No. Trishal UP |
Married + Unmarried+ Others) |
33+33+33=99 |
Mymensingh |
Mymensingh |
Trishal |
2
No. Bailor UP |
Married + Unmarried+ Others) |
33+33+33=99 |
Mymensingh |
Mymensingh |
Trishal |
3
No. Danikhola UP |
Married + Unmarried+ Others) |
20+20+20=60 |
|
No of Total
Respondents |
258 |
Table 3: Sample Size for Qualitative Research
Location |
Criteria of respondent |
No of respondent |
Total no of respondents |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
1
No. Trishal UP, 2
No. Boilar UP and 3
No. Danikhola UP |
|
||
UP
representatives |
2
(from each UP) |
6
(2x3 UPs) |
|
UP
officials |
1
(from each UP) |
3
(1x3 UPs) |
|
INGOs/NGOs |
2
(from each UP) |
6
(2x3 UPs) |
|
Victims
Parents |
3
(from each UP) |
9
(3x3 UPs) |
|
- |
- |
22
Respondents |
|
Case Study |
2
from each UP |
6 Cases |
11. 3 Data collection and analysis:
Data will be collected based on a structured survey questionnaire as part of the quantitative tool and for qualitative data collection for KII and FGD purpose a checklist will be prepared and followed. After collection from field data will be coded accordingly (morally) and analyzed statistically.
12.
Ethical consideration
This research will be ethical. It will not hamper any individuals, any institutions, any organizations as well as the social environment. It will be helpful to prevent sexual harassment of women at every places especially educational institutions and working place. This paper can also be able to build public awareness of sexual harassment of women.
13. Timeframe of the study
Activities |
Month |
||||||||
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
9th |
|
Review of
Relevant Literature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Collection and Preparation of
Relevant data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preliminary analysis of data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preparation of interim report |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Organizing and writing the final
research report |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Project Time |
9th Month |
14. References
Aid, D. C. (2019). Women Trafficking.
Retrieved from DCA Actllaine: https://www.danchurchaid.org
Andaleeb Saad
Syed, M. S. (2018). Women victims of sexual harassment in public transport. Women
victims of sexual harassment in public transport. Dhaka: BRAC Centre.
Bangladesh, C.
(2018). women's empowerment. Defending Dignity. fighting, Poverty.
Retrieved from www.carebangladesh.org
Campaign, U. S.
(2019). Empowering women by raising awareness of sexual harassment. Empowering
women by raising awareness of sexual harassment. Georgia: Prague Civil
Society Centre.
Commission, C.
H. (2019). Harassment. Ottawa: Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1E1.
Enamul, C. H.
(2018, April 22). Eve teasing in contemporary social perspective. Daily
Sun.
F. Begum, R. N.
(2010). Harassment of women garment workers in Bangladesh. Jounal of
Bangladesh Agriltural University, 8 (2), P, 291–296.
FF Benya, S. W. (2018). Sexual Harassment of
Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences n Academic Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).
Glenn, J. (2017). What are the ways to remove gender discrimination? columbus. Retrieved from http://www.quora.com
Hunt Carrie, D.
M. (2007). Sexual harassment in the workplace. The Center for Equality and
Diversity at Work.
Johura, P. A.
(2018). Law proposed to end sexual harassment at work. Dhaka: DhakaTribune.
Retrieved from www.dhakatribune.com
Organization, W.
H. (2017). Violence against women. Retrieved from www.who.int
Parishad, B. M.
(2016). Annual report 2015. Dhaka.
Rana, D. (2017).
Sexual Harassment: Enough is enough.
Razidur, M. R.
(2017). Sexual Harassment against Women. (E. H. Chowdhury, Ed.) Daily Sun.
Rights, T. A.
(2018, July). Stop Violence against Women. Minneapolis, USA. Retrieved from
http://www.stopvaw.org
Sexual
Assault. (2019, July). Retrieved from
Rainn: https://www.rainn.org
(2015). Sexual
Harassment Elimination and Prevention Policy. Dhaka: Bangladesh Legal Aid
and Services Trust (BLAST).
Taqbir, H.
(2019, June). Sexual Harassment and the Law: Where's the Problem. Bangladesh
Legal Aid and Services Trust.
Understand
Domestic Violence. (2019, July).
Retrieved from White Ribbon: https://www.whiteribbon.org.au
Véronique, M.
(2004, April). Countdown to Implementation of Legislation on Psychological
Harassment in the Workplace. In Fact and In Law.
W. H. (2017). Violence against women. World Health Organization. Retrieved from www.who.int
15. Budget Summary
Program
Details |
|
|
|
|
SI. |
Events/Items |
Details |
Amount |
Total
Amount |
1. |
Survey/Information collection |
|
|
|
|
|
Surveyors |
20,000 |
|
|
|
Transport
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
Training |
5,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
30,500 |
2. |
Report
making & Presentation |
|
|
|
|
|
Data
sorting |
2,000 |
|
|
|
Report
making |
3,000 |
|
|
|
Report
Presentation |
3,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,200 |
3. |
Research
Materials |
|
|
|
|
|
Paper
A4 (Rim) |
2,000 |
|
|
|
Printer
Cartiz |
7,000 |
|
|
|
Pen
|
200 |
|
|
|
Pencil
|
200 |
|
|
|
Photocopy |
2000 |
|
|
|
Book,
Journal Purchase |
4,500 |
|
|
|
Publication |
4000 |
|
|
|
|
|
19,900 |
4. |
Honorarium |
|
|
|
|
Principle Investigator |
Basic
Salary |
20,200 |
|
|
Cooperator
|
Collaborator |
8,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
28,200 |
|
Total
Tk. |
|
|
86,800/= |
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