On several occasions I came across a hot topic – where women are more liberated, here in US or back home in Bangladesh. I have heard opinions from both sides which I will summarize here. There are many factors that I won’t be able to discuss due to the vastness of the topic.  But we would like to hear opinions from our readers.

Majority of people who have grown up in Bangladesh and have lived in US for parts of their lives have mentioned that west has given women more freedom.  Freedom or liberty in terms of the ability to make your own choice, being able to lead a life without depending on others, being able to move/walk/travel on your own without being escorted by a man.  On top of all of these, women in the US can work hard to achieve their goals and are less likely to become victims of sexual abuse.

Some who disagree say that it is a superficial freedom in the west.  There is still discrimination against women.  Look at the western media, entertainment industry, how do they portray women?  Woman is merely a commodity in the western market.  They have to work hard to earn their living; they have to attract men with their physical beauty; and they are being discriminated at work as well.  This group says in Bangladesh women are respected, while in US women are always judged by their looks. 

Both sides have some valid points.  If we categorize the degree of freedom to fundamental or primary freedom, and secondary freedom, I see different types of freedom or lack of freedom existing in both the societies.  I consider the fundamental or primary freedom for women being the same as fundamental human rights.  This is a freedom of choice in living and thinking.  In that regard I think women in the west, specifically women in US are legally and socially treated somewhat equal.  In Bangladesh, women are still the victims of dowry. Majority still don’t have access to education; they still are forced to early marriage; they don’t have the equal property ownership rights in the law. These are only a few of many violations of basic human rights against the women in Bangladesh.

Secondary freedom such as respect and dignity for women are endangered in the western society as women are becoming more and more the commodities in the media and market economy.  In the US, professional women with higher education in many cases are still being treated as administrative assistants.  Many Bangladeshis have claimed that they respect their women more than the western world does.  They respect women as mother, wife and sister.  They value the dignity and liberty of women.  However, I just haven’t seen this applied to all women at all levels of Bengali society.  It is true that women are respected among the upper or middle-income group, or in educated class.  But the trust, respect and reliability on women’s skill and intelligence are still missing.  Only verbal respect is meaningless unless it is expressed in action.  If we look at the grass-root level working class women, neither primary nor secondary freedom exist for women in the society of Bangladesh.          

Personally, I enjoy more freedom in US.  I can achieve success here if I work hard, and the society is not questioning my ability just because I am a woman.  If I succeed, that is my achievement; if I fail, I take that responsibility as well.  

At least for one reason, I have no hesitation to say that women are better treated in US than in Bangladesh.  In Bangladesh, if a woman is raped, the society looks down upon her, blames her, outcasts her, as if the whole incident is her fault.  Already suffering from the horror, she then becomes the victim of the social mistreat.  Here in US, such cases are treated with much compassion.  There is no social stigma, and she is treated medically as a victim with all due respect.  She goes back to the society not with disgrace, but with compassion from others.      

The equality and true liberty for women hasn’t been achieved yet throughout the world.  We could strive to reach the dignity and respect for woman all over the world once we know our shortcomings.  And when we talk about women’s liberty, we need to address all women including the grass root level rural women; not just some privileged and protected women who never had to face the reality of lives.Â