Gender activist Kamla Bhasin calls Bangladesh women to act fearlessly to change themselves

Fighting violence against women is the biggest battle of the world, the leading feminist activist of South Asia Kamla Bhasin has said as she called upon the women to act fearlessly to change the situation.

She was speaking at the inauguration of a programme titled 'Solidarity Against Exploitation Of Women' in Dhaka on Sunday.

One Billion Rising, one of the biggest feminist movements of recent times, organised the programme at Chhayanaut Auditorium.

Patriarchy will not change if "we do not change our personal lives", Bhasin observed.

"So I am pointing the finger at myself and you, regardless of your gender, point your finger at yourself," she said.

"If I don't change, the world, formed with my family and me, won't change. If the person living in a room doesn't change the room also won't change. This room is patriarch. We, all those who are here, have built this room. So we all should be blamed for this," she added.     

The gender activist objected to the use of the word 'husband'. "Because this word doesn't speak about equality. Husband is the person who controls.

"You must've heard the word animal husbandry. Many young women here should say that they do not want any husband, but a life partner. So the word husband is out. We want partner," she said.

Referring to the movement in India for women's right to enter some religious institutes, she said it was a 'big win' as the Supreme Court ordered a shrine to allow women in.

"Why won't they allow us? Because we are impure, dirty for we have period. And when the men defecate or urinate against trees and walls - won't they become dirty?" she asked.

Bhasin said there was no shame in having menstruation. "It's not dirty blood. It's the holiest blood from where human beings are born."

According to her, women actually do not challenge out of fear. "We always say the same thing what others say. But we'll have to be courageous. Patriarchy is not our biggest enemy. Our biggest enemy is the fear lying in us."

Since 2013, One Billon Rising has been working to bring an end to violence against women. With ‘Rising with Eve’, Bangladesh becomes one of the 204 countries where OBR is working as part of their 2016 theme ‘Revolution’.

Bangladeshi activist Khushi Kabir, speaking at the inauguration of the programme, urged the mayors of Dhaka to ensure safe travel of women in the city.