Like many other South Asian countries, in Bangladesh, the gravity of sexual harassment in public space has been diluted and almost “normalised" through calling it ‘eve-teasing’. ‘Eve teasing’ is just another term for sexual harassment in public space or street harassment in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries. By using a benign word such as ‘teasing’ to express a behaviour that is grossly inappropriate, it reduces the extent of the action, therefore, we should use the word sexual harassment instead of “eve-teasing” in order to address this deep- seated problem of our society.
Although late, policymakers in Bangladesh arc also finally realising that eve-teasing constitutes sexual harassment. There is no estimate on national prevalence of sexual harassment in public spaces in Bangladesh. However. Action Aid found, that 84% of women they surveyed (of 800 women and girls) in 2015 reported experiencing sexual harassment in the public. According to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a legal aid organisation. 108 women were sexually harassed in Bangladesh between January and October 2018, of which eight women attempted suicide, and seven men were murdered when they protested these harassments.
To allow social change regarding sexual harassment to take place in Bangladesh, it is imperative that we as a society listen more to the survivors, rather than blaming them. Starting from school-level interventions, public and private stakeholders must immediately begin to reframe the messaging around socialization of boys and girls and stop the propagation of stereotypical mind-set from parents, teachers and community to their children.
10 MCQs with Answers
What is 'eve-teasing' in Bangladesh?
a) A friendly joke
b) A form of sexual harassment
c) A cultural tradition
d) A type of dance
Answer: b) A form of sexual harassment
Why is the term 'eve-teasing' problematic?
a) It makes harassment sound less serious
b) It is difficult to pronounce
c) It is a foreign term
d) It is not used in Bangladesh
Answer: a) It makes harassment sound less serious
How many women surveyed by Action Aid in 2015 reported experiencing sexual harassment in public?
a) 50%
b) 70%
c) 84%
d) 90%
Answer: c) 84%
What does Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) do?
a) Provides education
b) Offers legal aid
c) Conducts business training
d) Manages hospitals
Answer: b) Offers legal aid
What happened to some men who protested against sexual harassment in 2018?
a) They received awards
b) They were murdered
c) They were promoted in their jobs
d) They were fined
Answer: b) They were murdered
What is one solution suggested to reduce sexual harassment in Bangladesh?
a) Blaming survivors
b) Educating children from a young age
c) Encouraging silence
d) Ignoring the issue
Answer: b) Educating children from a young age
Who needs to take action to stop sexual harassment, according to the text?
a) Only the government
b) Only the victims
c) Society, including parents, teachers, and stakeholders
d) Only schools
Answer: c) Society, including parents, teachers, and stakeholders
Why is it important to listen to survivors?
a) To blame them for the incidents
b) To learn from their experiences and bring change
c) To discourage them from speaking out
d) To ignore their stories
Answer: b) To learn from their experiences and bring change
What kind of mindset should be stopped to reduce harassment?
a) Stereotypical thinking about gender roles
b) Encouraging equality
c) Teaching respect for all genders
d) Promoting women's safety
Answer: a) Stereotypical thinking about gender roles
What is the main focus of the article?
a) How to stop cybercrime
b) The importance of tourism
c) Addressing sexual harassment in Bangladesh
d) Climate change problems
Answer: c) Addressing sexual harassment in Bangladesh
10 Short Questions with Elaborate Answers in Easy English
What is 'eve-teasing' and why is it a problematic term?
'Eve-teasing' is a term used in Bangladesh and South Asian countries to describe sexual harassment in public places. The problem with this term is that it makes sexual harassment sound like a small issue. The word 'teasing' means joking or playing, but sexual harassment is a serious problem. That is why people should use the term 'sexual harassment' instead.
What percentage of women reported facing sexual harassment in public according to Action Aid in 2015?
According to Action Aid, 84% of the 800 women and girls surveyed in 2015 said they experienced sexual harassment in public places. This shows that the problem is very common in Bangladesh.
What are the consequences of sexual harassment according to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)?
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) reported that in 2018, 108 women were sexually harassed in Bangladesh between January and October. Because of this, eight women tried to commit suicide. Additionally, seven men were murdered when they tried to stop the harassment. This shows that sexual harassment is a serious problem that affects many people.
Why should society listen to survivors of sexual harassment instead of blaming them?
Society should listen to survivors because they are the victims, not the ones at fault. Blaming them makes the problem worse and discourages them from speaking out. If we listen to them, we can understand their experiences and take action to stop harassment.
How can schools help to reduce sexual harassment in Bangladesh?
Schools can play a big role in stopping sexual harassment by teaching students about respect, equality, and the importance of treating others well. If children learn from a young age that harassment is wrong, they will grow up with better values. Schools can also create strict rules to stop bullying and harassment.
What role do parents play in preventing sexual harassment?
Parents are very important in preventing sexual harassment. They should teach their children to respect others and treat both boys and girls equally. Parents should also stop teaching harmful gender stereotypes, such as the idea that boys are strong and girls should be quiet.
What are the dangers of normalizing sexual harassment?
If people think sexual harassment is normal, they will not try to stop it. Victims will be afraid to speak up, and harassers will continue their bad behavior. This can make society more unsafe, especially for women and girls.
Why is gender equality important in stopping sexual harassment?
Gender equality means treating men and women the same. If boys and girls are treated equally from a young age, they will learn to respect each other. When there is gender equality, fewer people will believe that men have power over women, which can help stop harassment.
How can the media help fight against sexual harassment?
The media can spread awareness by showing the real impact of sexual harassment. News channels, social media, and TV shows can talk about the problem and encourage people to take action. If more people see the issue as serious, they will work to stop it.
What is the overall message of the article?
The article talks about how sexual harassment is a big problem in Bangladesh and should not be called 'eve-teasing' because that makes it sound less serious. It shows that many women face harassment, and even those who try to stop it can be harmed. The article says that to stop harassment, society must listen to survivors, educate children properly, and stop old ways of thinking that encourage gender inequality.
Bangla Translation
বাংলা অনুবাদঃ
দক্ষিণ এশিয়ার অন্যান্য অনেক দেশের মতো, বাংলাদেশেও, প্রকাশ্য স্থানে যৌন হয়রানির তীব্রতাকে 'ইভ-টিজিং' বলে অভিহিত করে প্রায় "স্বাভাবিক" করে তোলা হয়েছে। বাংলাদেশ এবং দক্ষিণ এশিয়ার অন্যান্য দেশে 'ইভ টিজিং' হল প্রকাশ্য স্থানে বা রাস্তার হয়রানির জন্য যৌন হয়রানির আরেকটি শব্দ। 'টিজিং' এর মতো একটি বিনয়ী শব্দ ব্যবহার করে এমন আচরণ প্রকাশ করা যা অত্যন্ত অনুপযুক্ত, এটি কর্মের পরিমাণ হ্রাস করে, তাই, আমাদের সমাজের এই গভীর সমস্যা মোকাবেলা করার জন্য "ইভ-টিজিং" শব্দটির পরিবর্তে যৌন হয়রানি শব্দটি ব্যবহার করা উচিত।
যদিও দেরিতে হলেও, বাংলাদেশের নীতিনির্ধারকরাও অবশেষে বুঝতে পারছেন যে ইভ-টিজিং যৌন হয়রানি। বাংলাদেশে প্রকাশ্য স্থানে যৌন হয়রানির জাতীয় প্রকোপ সম্পর্কে কোনও অনুমান নেই। তবে। অ্যাকশন এইড দেখেছে যে, ২০১৫ সালে তাদের জরিপ করা ৮৪% মহিলা (৮০০ জন মহিলা ও মেয়ের মধ্যে) জনসমক্ষে যৌন হয়রানির শিকার হয়েছেন বলে জানিয়েছেন। আইন সহায়তা সংস্থা আইন ও সালিশ কেন্দ্র (ASK) অনুসারে। ২০১৮ সালের জানুয়ারী থেকে অক্টোবরের মধ্যে বাংলাদেশে ১০৮ জন নারী যৌন হয়রানির শিকার হয়েছেন, যার মধ্যে আটজন নারী আত্মহত্যার চেষ্টা করেছেন এবং এই হয়রানির প্রতিবাদ করতে গিয়ে সাতজন পুরুষকে হত্যা করা হয়েছে।
বাংলাদেশে যৌন হয়রানির বিষয়ে সামাজিক পরিবর্তন আনার জন্য, সমাজ হিসেবে আমাদের উচিত ভুক্তভোগীদের দোষারোপ করার পরিবর্তে তাদের কথা আরও বেশি শোনা। স্কুল-স্তরের হস্তক্ষেপ থেকে শুরু করে, সরকারি ও বেসরকারি অংশীদারদের অবিলম্বে ছেলে ও মেয়েদের সামাজিকীকরণের বার্তা পুনর্গঠন শুরু করতে হবে এবং বাবা-মা, শিক্ষক এবং সম্প্রদায় থেকে তাদের সন্তানদের প্রতি স্টেরিওটাইপযুক্ত মানসিকতার প্রচার বন্ধ করতে হবে।
Ad
vocabulary words from the passage with their Bangla translations:
Harassment - হয়রানি
Eve-teasing - যৌন হয়রানি (বাংলাদেশে ব্যবহৃত শব্দ)
Sexual - যৌন
Public space - গণপরিসর / জনসমাগমস্থল
Street harassment - রাস্তায় হয়রানি
Benign - নিরীহ / হালকা
Inappropriate - অনুপযুক্ত
Deep-seated - গভীরভাবে প্রোথিত
Policymakers - নীতিনির্ধারক
Realising - উপলব্ধি করা
Constitutes - গঠন করা / পরিগণিত হওয়া
Prevalence - ব্যাপকতা / প্রচলন
Surveyed - জরিপ করা
Legal aid - আইনগত সহায়তা
Attempted - চেষ্টা করা
Suicide - আত্মহত্যা
Protested - প্রতিবাদ করা
Murdered - হত্যা করা
Social change - সামাজিক পরিবর্তন
Imperative - অপরিহার্য
Survivors - বেঁচে থাকা ব্যক্তি
Blaming - দোষারোপ করা
Interventions - হস্তক্ষেপ / উদ্যোগ
Stakeholders - সংশ্লিষ্ট পক্ষ / অংশীদার
Messaging - বার্তা প্রদান / তথ্য প্রচার
Socialization - সামাজিকীকরণ
Propagation - প্রচার / প্রসার
Stereotypical - প্রচলিত ধারণা / গৎবাঁধা চিন্তাভাবনা
Mindset - মানসিকতা
Community - সমাজ / সম্প্রদায়
Gender roles - লিঙ্গভিত্তিক ভূমিকা
Equality - সমতা
Discourage - নিরুৎসাহিত করা
Respect - সম্মান
Discrimination - বৈষম্য
Awareness - সচেতনতা
Victims - ভুক্তভোগী
Punishment - শাস্তি
Strict rules - কঠোর নিয়ম
Impact - প্রভাব
Passage-2
Passage-3
Good
Thank you sir