Women’s rights have always been a strong centre of contention in modern conversations. It was not so long ago that women were not considered as people in the eyes of the law. Even in the early 20th century, they couldn’t vote, they could not hold high positions in society and life for them followed a monotone path with eventual fulfilment restricted to only being caretakers of the family. 

Since then, progress has been made; women now occupy a larger share of involvement in shaping society, both in the developed and underdeveloped world, their participation is noteworthy. 

However, violence against women seems to be something that still persists. Whether it be in the form of physical harm or mental harassment, the biologically stringent male mind often fails to remember its oath towards equality and barbarism takes over. In order to raise awareness and to remind ourselves of the work still required to be done, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 1999. 

The universality of violence 

No matter how much one might believe otherwise, sex does have a role in shaping gender norms throughout society. Maybe some indigenous societies are matriarchal and violence against women is few and far between, but in order to have a broader conversation, mainstream society has to be observed through the microcosm of history. 

Women, very clearly, were considered as property in the early days of what we consider the dawn of civilisation. Physically held back, and the necessity of motherhood made them vulnerable to dogma. Dogma set about to contain their potential and stifle their voices. 

Still, some broke through, and figures such as Rosa Parks, who refused to move from her seat in the segregated seating bus system of the US; Malala Yousafzai, who got shot for not backing down and simply walking her way to school; and the Mirabal Sisters, for whom 25 November was selected, were assassinated in 1960 by the Trujillo regime as they led the fight against them. 

In all these instances, women not only fought for themselves and their rights, but they also fought for emancipation, whose benefits are felt by the wider citizens regardless of gender. Consolidating the fact that they were not selfish in their pursuit of achieving equality, as their participation ensured greater strength of the movement they led. 

However, while we bask in the shared glory which is bound by sacrifice of both men and women in peacetime, we often forget their equal contribution to society as well. Contrary to popular belief, violence is not something uniquely restricted to underdeveloped and conservative societies. It shares a chilling universality. According to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) in 2024, 41% of US women have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

In the same year, according to the 2024 Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNFPA, 76% of Bangladeshi women (aged 15+) have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime (this includes physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence and controlling behaviours).

The staggering number depicts a clear picture of how we still view women in our society. Factors such as religious, political, and economic disadvantages also play a role in justifying their inferiority. 

In states such as Bangladesh, where political willpower is limited to empty slogans and dogmatic rituals, the state apparatus not just shows apathy but also consistently encourages discrimination. The laws of the state actively deny equality and without any debate, the government time and time again ignores such draconian  practices. 

Divorce (or dissolution) is more easily accessible to men; on the other hand, for women it is more difficult. A divorced Muslim woman is legally entitled to maintenance (financial support) only for 90 days after divorce (or, if pregnant, until the birth of the child). 

Marital property (i.e., joint property) is not well recognised; women often cannot claim a fair share of property contributed during marriage. Because of the lack of a uniform family law, inheritance rights vary by religion, and in practice, women’s property rights remain limited under some personal laws

Such taboo subjects are regularly ignored by the state as sensitive issues whereas its false secularist claims fail to play a neutral role in making the state at least appear neutral and for equality. 

Although the US today has no such discriminatory laws, it did have coverture laws where married women had no separate legal identity. They could not own property, sign contracts, earn wages independently, or sue/be sued. This was abolished in the 1940s. Till 1975, women could not serve on the jury and in a landmark case, the Supreme Court ruled women cannot be excluded from juries.

Comparing us with the developed world, one might see us stuck in the 1970s, while in others’ view, we are stuck in the 1800s. 

Steps required to move out of the middle ages 

Effective and pragmatic laws are needed when one thinks of removing the culture of state-sponsored discrimination. As stated above, not having uniform and equal property laws is a significant barrier holding back women. 

However, steps such as this require immense political will, which is something that does not seem plausible at this moment. The reform commission in 2024 has proposed such actions for Bangladesh; however, amidst the chaotic political rhetoric, it is yet another report that will gather the dust of obscurity, such as the norm. 

History has taught us that no political action has been gained without mass mobilisation. For countries such as ours, one thing is hopeful: among the workforce, there is strong participation of women. In education, there are problems in the rate of participation at the university level, but throughout the social classes, women are participating. 

As they take part in the economy, it will be expected that they realise the ownership of their labour, it is up to them to recognise the stake they have and the emancipation they deserve. Because no matter how much glitz and glamour particular policy proposals may contain, their effectiveness can only be dependent on society and women. As history has shown, men do forget the contribution of women quite quickly; therefore, it is another burden for women to carry the load of history which they have shaped equally and finally prove their worth.