Women work for long hours in the saline water for prawn collection, which puts them into a hazardous health situation. In addition, it is not always easy to get a regular job in the informal market.
In social life, women are virtually deprived of their fundamental rights in family, community and society. In the family, violence is common and women have very little voice to protest against such discrimination. There are many incidences of violation of family law. Women are deserted by their husbands, because in most cases marriage is not registered. Polygamy is common. Early marriage results in many families headed by single women who have to provide for themselves. These illiterate and unskilled women do not have access to any skills-based jobs. They have to rely on physical or manual work, which is not always guaranteed.
Education and awareness is central to all and especially to women in the fight against poverty and discrimination against women. 52% of women are illiterate and they lack basic survival skills. Social taboos, early marriage, and poverty are all reasons for their illiteracy. Poverty is also one of the main reasons for the low education of women. Due to poverty, parents want their daughters to be engaged in household routines or get them married at early age. Women have no decision-making power in society, as they are regarded as inferior to men. Malnutrition, early marriage, sexual violence, and restricted mobility deprive women of their natural development. Culturally, this area of Bangladesh is fundamental. Social customs and practices do not allow women their liberties. Economically, women are the most deprived. They have no access and control over land or any other resources.
This is the future of today’s “Young Girls,” who will soon be entitled “Women”.
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