Jhagrapur

"When this book was published in 1977, it was one of the first in-depth accounts of the lives of rural women in Bangladesh. The authors are Dutch anthropologists who lived in Jhagrapur village for an extended period. Prior to its publication, there was the misconceived notion of a rural-urban divide. It was assumed that the village was a harmonious whole, and that the village leadership looked after the interests of the villagers and tried to create an egalitarian balance. Class differences amongst villagers were assumed not to exist, and it was considered unfeasible and unnecessary for women to be organised separately. Class and gender divides were not clearly articulated, but this book helped to rectify that. Yes, and definitely for the better. Literacy levels have greatly improved due to targeted government policies and NGO interventions. Girls are completing secondary school studies at the same rates as boys, but tertiary education remains a big frontier. Many parents are worried about sending their daughters to live in university accommodation, as there are concerns about their safety. Men in rural communities are also now helping with household chores. Up until the late 1970s, men feared being ridiculed within the village if they did so. Now men are saying that they do help – perhaps not every day, but when needed – for example, if their wife attends a meeting in the evening. The fear of ridicule has disintegrated because we have worked to create an alternative social system, where men feel more comfortable in having an equal role. And women are feeling stronger also. However, there is still a lot that needs to be done. A total change in mindset regarding women is required – both at policy level and within the home. Improved literacy rates, for example, mean nothing unless there is a change of psyche. Plain and simple patriarchy still exists in many forms. In rural areas it is absolutely impossible for a woman to decide to stay single. She would be considered ‘easy prey’. If for any reason a woman never marries, she must fade into the background in order to be accepted. A married or widowed woman can be much more feisty, but an unmarried woman is considered a stigma. After working with a community for a year or so, we conduct joint training sessions with men and women. At this point the women are much more articulate – for the men, it may be the first time they are hearing that their behaviour is not appreciated. It’s amazing, on the whole, how men are willing to change."