How hard is it to be a woman in Bangladesh?

The Earth has completed another orbit around the Sun, and once again, it's the one day we talk about women—only for things to go back to being a man's world the next day.

But do we really need to talk about women? How hard is it to be one?

Let's take a look at Fatima's life. (Fatima is not real; she can be any woman at any stage of life.)

Fatima is born today in a remote village in Bangladesh, but her father and paternal relatives are not very happy about it because they wanted a son. They see Fatima as a burden since she will have to be married off to another family, whereas a son could have contributed financially. However, since infanticide is not very common, Fatima gets to live this time.

As Fatima grows up and starts going to school, she becomes increasingly insecure. She sees her brother receiving favouritism from their parents—he gets better education, nutrition, healthcare, and opportunities to try new things, as well as more freedom. While her brother plays with his friends, Fatima is expected to help her mother with household chores.

After Fatima completes her SSC exam, her parents decide they do not want her to continue studying. Instead, they want to marry her off soon, as they do not want to spend money on her education and find it increasingly difficult to "protect" her.

In another reality, Fatima comes from a slightly better-off family. After completing her HSC, she dreams of attending a top institution or studying abroad. However, her dreams are crushed when her parents decide to send her brother instead, prioritising his education over hers. They justify their decision by citing concerns for her "protection" and believing it is wiser to invest in a son rather than a daughter.

Even if Fatima moves to a new city, she will struggle to adjust more than her male peers. Finding a safe and hygienic place to live will be harder, using public transport will be more challenging, and even completing daily tasks will be more difficult. When she goes shopping, she will also face the "pink tax," where products marketed to women cost more than similar products for men.

After graduating, Fatima manages to find a job, but she quickly notices the pay gap between her and her male coworker, despite doing the same work. Her ideas and opinions are often ignored simply because she is a woman, and at times, she is treated with indifference for the same reason. As she tries to build her career in any sector, she will always have fewer opportunities compared to her male counterparts.

Finally, Fatima has gained some financial independence and plans to enjoy her life. However, her parents soon start pressuring her to get married because she is "aging." More than her parents, her relatives seem even more concerned about this. Every time she meets them, they ask, "Kobe biye korba?"

She is forced to meet eligible bachelors and their families in arranged marriage setups, where she faces questions like, "Will you work after marriage?", "How good are you at cooking?", or "How soon can you have kids?" Yet, no one ever asks, "What do you want from this relationship?" And if she wants to marry someone of her own choice, her family is unlikely to accept it happily.

Fatima eventually gets married and moves into her husband's house with the "gifts" (but not dowry) from her father. For a few days, everything feels good and cheerful. But soon, she finds herself doing all the household chores and cooking because, according to society, managing the household is always a woman's responsibility—one she will never be appreciated for.

Although cooking and cleaning should be basic life skills for everyone, her husband does not know how to do any of it. Yet, no one seems to mind because men are considered the "earning members" and are not expected to learn these tasks. But if Fatima lacks these skills, she will be treated as worthless.

Fatima is exhausted from managing both her household and job. Her husband, without offering any help, insists she quit work since he earns enough for both of them and wants to "protect" her from the outside world. He never bothers to ask what Fatima wants, what her goals are, or what future she envisions for her career. Instead, he simply imposes his decision on her.

As days pass, Fatima feels trapped in a repetitive cycle, doing the same tasks every day without rest or reward. In the midst of this, she finds a moment of joy upon discovering she is carrying a child. However, she soon realises the struggle to access basic nutrition and healthcare. 

Whenever she asks for even a little care, she is dismissed with, "You are not the only woman in the world giving birth." Enduring society's indifference, Fatima gives birth to another Fatima, and the cycle of neglect begins again.

In today's society, simply being a woman is challenging. Let's not make it even harder by restricting their right to play football, denying them access to basic hygiene products, or harassing them on the streets in broad daylight. Let them have the freedom to live, to express themselves, and to dream. Give them security so they don't always have to be "protected" or feel like they were born only to serve patriarchy.