This year's cryptic campaign theme for the International Women's Day, #Break The Bias, says it all. Yes, the hash symbol at the beginning is a stark reminder of the #Me Too campaign and the capital letters for all three words including the definite article in the middle are used purposefully to stress their importance. Again, it has an echo from the celebrated Korean movie, "Break the Silence". Clearly, 'bias' here primarily means that of the gender-related but then its range and scope are far wider. The expectation is to see a world free of bias, stereotypes and all kinds of discriminations. Such a world cannot, however, be established unless the diversity is accepted as a fact, equity as a norm and inclusiveness as a basic principle. So, respect for differences is a sine qua non and it is exactly at this stage human civilisation earns the right to celebrate its progress. Thus people can forge a strong bond for waging a war on gender bias and discrimination.
All this, however, sounds hyperbolic in a country where physical and sexual violence against girls ---even as underage as three/four years old---and women is rampant and child marriages take place notwithstanding the legal bar. However, viewed from societal point, the anachronism is too obvious to be missed. Here is a country where, the premier, the leader of the opposition and the speaker of the JatiyaSangsad have long been women. Yet apart from violence, the miseries, humiliation and disrespect women in general are subjected to do not and cannot make a nation proud. This is simply because of the fact that half of the population is thus held back. It is said not for nothing that a society that treats women respectfully is progressive and this is proportionate to the value and respect given to them.
There are, however, positive signs about the outlook of gender parity. Enrolment of more girl students at the primary and secondary education levels, better performance by girls in Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations than boys are a sure proof that the young generations are on course of achieving the parity in the near future, if not in all areas of life, at least in terms of education and empowerment. These two are vital conditions for overcoming the socio-economic constraints including religious obscurantism. If men and women can reach out to each other on level terms, all forms of bias can be dismantled without any aggressive but compartmentalised campaign.
With education and empowerment of women, what counts most is to temper the current trend of exhibitionism and consumerism with cultural enlightenment. Brute money power and raw political influence have remained the bane of the present civilisation. These powerful weapons are used for exploiting women both blatantly and subtly. Well educated and culturally advanced society can channel the titillating and naked sexism into the highly refined art as proved by classical music, fine arts, dance, drama, opera etcetera. In consumerist society women are often unaware that they are being sexually exploited. So a paradigm shift in consumerist mentality will have to take place in bringing about the desirable gender parity.