Abstract

Sexual harassment of women is common in many countries of the world. But Bangladesh presents some distinct, situational and dreadful realities. A Bangladesh experience revents that one of the highest rates of sexual harassment on women takes place frequently here both at private and public sectors. Declining social and moral norms based on patriarchal values contribute to increasing sexual harassment of women in Bangladesh. It is prevalent almost in all sections of the society. However, such incidents are less publicized among middle and upper income groups. It is a symptom of continual discrimination and exploitation of women rooted in unequal power relation. It is very difficult for women in Bangladesh to protest sexual harassment due to fear of social stigma and scandal sustained by the dominance of conservative patriarchal social system. Paradoxically, majority of the people tend to accuse the harassed women rather than the perpetrators. Therefore, sexual harassment has remained an unpunished hidden crime in Bangladesh. If the victims decide to protest, her close relatives, friends or neighbors force her to pull back; as they think it will destroy the reputation of the family as well as the girl. As a result, most of the women fail to recognize it as a crime and thus accept it as an inevitable phenomenon. They do not get any mental support to cope with the situation. Moreover, they are forced to learn to cope with and accept sexual harassment as a usual expression of men’s sexual desire. As most women in Bangladesh keep quiet in such private trauma’ or ‘personal injury’, the perpetrators, either family or in public places move at large without any punishment. On the other hand, social as well as legal protection against this vicious form of aggression against women is almost negligible.