CONTEXT

In patriarchal social systems such as Bangladesh's, men possess more power and have greater access to social, economic and informational resources than women. As a consequence of this power and privilege, men are able to attain positions that allow them to shape policies and systems which give rise to further imbalance.

The inferior status of women in Bangladesh is due to low literacy rates, unbalanced wage rates, low life expectancy and, most importantly, the lack of access to economic, social and informational resources. Their disadvantaged situation is a consequence of not only this lack of access to resources but also, more importantly, the patriarchal ideologies, cultural values and attitudes prevalent in all levels of Bangladeshi society.

The preference for sons in Bangladesh is tied to economics. When a woman gets married, she moves to her new husband's village, and often her family pays a dowry (money or goods given to the husband at marriage). The practice of dowry is illegal in Bangladesh, but is still common. Disputes over dowry account for a large percentage of domestic abuse. At birth, a daughter is seen a visitor in her parent's home. Sons, however, live with their parents for life and will care for them in old age. Sons are a parent's social security system while daughters are expensive.

Poverty and gender inequality are interrelated - one exacerbates the other. Due to gender discrimination within all levels of the social system, women are especially vulnerable to and the worst affected by poverty. Women's poverty enhances the poverty of the whole family.

Since its inception in 1972, BRAC has recognized women as the agents of change within the family and community. BRAC has placed focus on the empowerment of women through all our interventions, directing the majority of our programs towards them.

BRAC believes in the importance of organizing women in protest against undue subordination. In order to achieve gender equality, redistribution of power through economic, social and political empowerment is necessary. We use legal literacy and supportive services to develop critical legal consciousnesses amongst poor and disadvantaged people to protect themselves from illegal, unfair or discriminatory practices. We organize rural poor, women in particular, to build their own community-based institutions for awareness raising and strengthening their voice to claim their rights and entitlements, and resist exploitation.