B)
Feedback/ Comments of the Trainers: The trainers share a common feeling
about their teaching. They commented that though IT has gone far behind in
the larger world, but Bangladesh still lags in basic courses. The trainees-
being motivated by the media or through close acquaintance, want to learn
more advance programs of computer but due to unavailability of the govt.
fund and interest- the trainers have to resort to the ‘one and only'
syllabus in existence since inception. Some changes have taken place but
they are not adequate to meet the requisites of the trainees. For example-
after learning the basic parts of a program, some participants feels an urge
to know the deeper or extended version of a program which, due to
unavailability of fund or training, the trainers are unable to offer them.
About 95% participants follow the syllabus, which is developed and
maintained to serve the purpose of getting a good job. Mushrooming of
computer teaching centers are developing to meet the growing interest of
participants and mainly the non-governmental parties are taking the lead
role here. They observed that a participant tends to get admitted in the
computer-training center nearest to their homes and they are indeed very
enthusiastic to get training- to know about a new field of knowledge.
Moreover, a computer programmer suggested that with the extension of
computer knowledge-there is a felt need to enlarge the syllabus while at the
same time the course fee should be cut-off according the capability of
students to ensure entrance of interested ones.
Through interview with the programmers, I came to know that most of the
participants wanted to join any company/ NGO or organization, but there were
also a lot of success stories where they joined the company of their dreams.
Some even got the chance in fashion designing. And here also lies the most
pathetic part of the story, many participants are not getting chance in
their targeted area simply because of the nepotism of the management section
who tend to select non-professionals at the cost of potential candidates.
C) The Trainees: Their Feelings: Each participant did not lose a
second to confidently utter, “I will stand on my own feet and be self-
sufficient through empowerment as I will use this training there. I want to
take decision in the family matters” and so on.
Determination of self-sustainability through earning was seen rooted in the
hearts of the educated local women. They will not be able to benefit from
knowledge networking processes unless specific ICT models are created or
targeted to the needs of local women community. Even some participants were
found who had to struggle to attend the courses from the suburb as sometimes
the urge to learn computer can cost them their job. The trainees here mainly
come from the middle or upper middle class and many of them were still
students. Through an open questionnaire, I tried to enquire why they became
interested in this area. The answers- more or less, point out the same
thing- each woman wants to hold her head high with dignity through
self-reliance.
D) Interviews: An open questionnaire was developed to know about the
background, social status, and future plan of the participants. The
questions asked to them were-
• Name,
educational qualification, reasons for joining the IT sector, from where
they came to know about the course
• Distance
of residence from the center and whether they face any social / family
problem regarding taking the computer course
• What is
their viewpoint about the training they are getting
• What they
would like to suggest to the training center so they can get more from the
course
• What is
their future plan after completion of the course
I was
present in 3 batches simultaneously running on the basic computer
application knowledge. Each course had 20 participants and I was able to
motivate a few of them to give an interview while the class went on. Most
interviewees were students who were using the waiting time to get their exam
results. Their responses are attached below-
1. Ms. Rippka (35): Just completed her Honors degree and is now
waiting for her result. Mainly housewife. She was quite astonished when she
was asked about her intentions to study the computer. She asked me how come
I could even think about this age without a computer as life rotates around
computers and it is absolutely necessary to accumulate knowledge on
computer. She wants to develop her Curriculum Vitae and other office
requisites by acquiring computer skills. She came to know about this program
from newspapers. Her family and society- are both positive towards her
learning the computer.
2. Ms. Polly (26) : She has just completed her honors exam from
Accounting and now is waiting for the result. She has a dream to serve in
the Bank or commerce related organizations. Polly thinks it an age of
competition where the use of technology features prominently and she does
not want to lag behind in this race. She wants to be independent and
self-reliance as she thinks this is a ‘must’ for all educated women at this
age. She came to know about this organization through the daily newspaper.
Polly’s family encouraged her to take this lesson and she found no social
obstacle.
3. Ms. Maleka (45): A school-teacher who has stepped into this world
with the intention to make her students literate in this computer database.
She comes from a far place with the intention to upgrade herself with the
changing world as well as to save her job by coping with the new syllabus.
“The colleagues”… she said “… are helpful while I come here to get classes”
and in the meantime- she has to compensate her colleagues through sharing
her knowledge. She thinks she has availed a good opportunity which is really
needed and helpful these days. The newspaper made her aware about the
course. She found distance the only the problem to learn the computer and to
her- society is quite liberal these days to let a girl know computer.
4. Ms. Urmi (27): This energetic scholar girl has migrated from
another district after completion of her Masters degree to settle in the
capital city with her husband. Though currently a temporary housewife, she
wants to continue her study and get herself admitted to Masters in Business
Administration (MBA-this course has become a hot-cake to get a good package
in job market). The advertisement in the daily paper made her interested to
join the course. Urmi’s parents/husband did not mind- nor her neighbors when
she came to know computer.
5. Ms.
Uma (23): She thinks it is only through a hand on learning which makes a
person perfect. After completing her Honors examination from Political
Science- she wishes to get a part-time job and there is such opportunity
since all the big shopping malls in Bangladesh counts in computer, she feels
the urge to know how to insert database in computer. Her sister who was an
ex-student here told her about the course. Uma also finds no enmity between
family tradition and learning the computer and she is quite happy that she
has made another friend circle over here.
6. Ms Rezvin (18): Rezvin is carrying out her Honors classes from a
reputed Bangladeshi college. This teenage girl has gone a little far in her
thinking. “You simply cannot think a day without upgrading yourself through
media”. Computer - according to her – opens up a vast arena of interest and
knowledge. “Even if you wish, you cannot stay in a gloomy mood as the
computer has its power to make you laugh and lighten up your mind. And oh,
at 18, this is the best opportunity to make friends through internet from
all over the world. Computer helped me to become a smart girl”- Rezvin
confesses. “And family problem?”- “No way-everyone understands where are we
moving towards and what are we supposed to gain”- her straight answer.
7. Ms Marzia (36): Mother of two kids, Ms. Marzia had no option but
to learn computer. Her kids have home tasks on computer and she could help
them in all other subjects except this one. The daily newspaper rescued her
from this panicky situation and now it is a relieving thought that she can
communicate with the wide world and develop many plans to use computer. She
is interested to know about the graphic side of the computer as a hobby and
as an earning activity. Her family has extended their full support to her
and “the society also is not reserved about this point” – she says.
N.B: All
participants had one common interest- to insert Computer Graphics in their
syllabus and make the syllabus more worthwhile.
E)
Concluding remarks:
• Poverty
alleviation and self-employment for poor and low income group women
• Increase
women’s participation in productive activities
• Increase
of literacy of women
• Create
social awareness among women
• Raise the
socio- economic status of f women of lower income families by making them
economically self-reliant
To achieve
these targets – imparting training for 12000 poor women in different trades
are offered where computer training now takes a lead role. The 3 months
course ends up with giving a loan of Tk. 20,000/- to each successful
participant so that they can start computer business . They start repaying
the loan after 8 months. The income generation can start up by taking works
of data entry, spreadsheet development, logo designing of various companies/
offices. And the trainer said many doctors, housewives are now coming to
know this skill as they can earn extra while sitting home and that really
boosts their morale.
G)
Comments of the Trainer : Ms. Nawaz thinks girls are very smart these
days. As they know they have entered a world of competition, they are trying
their best to cope with the world. The trainer said, they used to learn out
of curiosity but now, it seems it is a “must” to her. She gauges this by the
looks of the keenness and competitiveness of girls seeking admission to the
course. Moreover, they do take admission in more than one course at one time
as they do not know which will click for her. So, a girl wants to combine
her knowledge in different areas- the knowledge she gathered from the
computer graphics and designing- she wants to replicate that in her
embroidery/ boutique designing and more often- she starts developing cards,
colour combination to interior decoration, making friends from all over the
world through using internet etc. A girl now gets jobs in the travel agency,
small industry development, hospitals, private clinics, shopping malls,
ad-farms etc.
H) The
Trainees- Their Feelings: “ I saw my mother doing all the household
duties, she raised us, taught us as much as she could, gave her best and the
last drop of stamina for the welfare of family… but still she has no voice-
she has no right to take any decision. I am not going to be my mother’s
duplicate”… Suraiya gushed out all those words in a breath. And more or
less- the girls of today wants to be self- reliant/ employed and their self-
esteem is very high after they are educated.
I)
Interviews: Here too, the same questionnaire was followed. Interviewees
seemed confident to give their answer without any hesitation and they also
wanted to know about the interviewer.
1. Ms.
Rebecca (37): Rebecca is a professional singer, teacher in a song
academy, housewife, mother of a 7 years old son and has no maid to offer her
a helping hand in daily urban household job. After so much work (!) she
thinks she has spare time and she wants to utilize her full energy. She says
“ I think I have selected a right training as it is offering me a vast area-
I am getting accustomed to many things I longed to know.” She gave the
example of database processing . She had to leave her job of Accounting in a
private company due to sickness and her inability to know the programming.
Rebecca is very keen to know about new things and she got the proper item
this time – she is overwhelmed. “It is the browsing which is a splendid
thing and I can get to know so many things! I even play games with my child.
The happiness you are seeing is mainly because I am satisfied and am
planning to go for a private job. My husband tries to help me and I am
really very happy getting a friend circle over here.” She came to know about
the course through newspaper and has the full support of her family.
2. Ms. Suraiya (26): Suraiya has just completed her Masters exam from
Social Science and while waiting for the result- she is trying to make
herself updated. She has already started searching for a job. Suraiya’s
friend informed her about the course.
3. Ms Lina (24): Lina is passing the best part of her life. She will
migrate to Canada within two months to settle with her husband. Lina thinks,
though her husband earns and perhaps that is quite adequate to live a good
life, but she has a dream of her own- the dream of self- employed. She
thinks to get a job in a good shopping mall over Canada and she is getting
the training for that. She cannot leave her education simply go in vein just
being a house wife. Higher studies must be undertaken. Her sister was an
ex-student in the centre and thus Lina came here taking family permission.
4. Ms. Farhana (20): Farhana is an attractive lady who has entered
the age of electronics. She has just completed her Honors final exam and now
is waiting for the result. She did some part time jobs in the meantime (like
being a Sales Manager in the International Trade Fair) and found out
computer is extremely necessary for her future career and study as well. She
wishes to carry out part time job in shopping malls with her study. One of
her friends gave her information about the course and her family had no
objection against this course.
J)
Concluding Remarks:
The
objectives set up for the centre is pro-poor but we found from the
interviews that the girls taking training in computer are educated (at least
are taking the higher study) and are mostly coming from the middle and upper
middle class families. The trainer analyzed the difference between the
objectives and the reality. A minimal level of education is required for
computer training and this naturally excludes a class of women who do not
enjoy access to such education. The centre focuses on making this group
(poor uneducated women) self-employed through providing them training on
dress making and embroidery, packaging and binding, poultry, food processing
and preservation, imitation jewelry, shoe/ sandal making, boutique/ block
designing, making sanitation slab, candle etc. The hard-core poor go for
these courses and make a living for the family. Though the govt. has made
the education free for the girls up to Secondary School Certificate (SSC);
but social stigma, family orientation restrain them from using their
potential and sometimes even in the modern age they live a segregated and
secluded life.
The above
interviews therefore represent thoughts of modern girls who are very much
motivated with satellite channels, are confident, motivated and have a
positive outlook on life. They now want to come out of their shell that
their previous generations used to occupy. The girls of today want to
compete professionally with their male counterpart and wants to retain their
dignity and self-esteem in society and home. They are therefore,
prioritizing self- employment, which would make them able to take family
decision and they prioritize computer knowledge in this respect as it
provides them with the knowledge of the contemporary world. The loneliness -
specially for the housewives have reduced a lot with the knowledge of
computers as well as they are getting aware of the current world while
browsing. Women of today are more aware of themselves, health conscious,
intelligent and in pace with their male counterparts.
5.
Challenges Faced by Women to Get Empowered: Bangladeshi women face the
following common problems at workplace. About attitude and perceptions,
these include-
• Social
and cultural norms and values: Ideologies of male-domination and
misinterpretations of religion have led to the seclusion of women. Though
there are now enough opportunities for them to get educated as well as
employed, the inherited family stigma being blended with the social one made
women more vulnerable to social stigmas and unable to use their inner
potentials. This is mainly seen in the rural areas.
Insecurity and lack of mobility in the workplace: If a woman is bold
enough to disregard all her family tradition and becomes educated and luck
smiles on her- even then she has to struggle as still the govt. could not
ensure her security in public places like the way to her office. Eve-teasing
along with abuse is a very common scenario in Bangladesh. Besides even in
the workplace her male counterparts look at her as competitor and
continually suggest that her place is in the home.
•
Discrimination in judging their work: In the workplace, even if a woman
works better and more than her male colleagues, her Boss would tend to be
critical rather than appreciate. This is true for all classes of women. A
woman day laborers earns half than her male counterpart doing the same job.
• A
further, deeply ingrained problem is a lack of self-confidence that is often
a feature of the middle-class women (and the young new-comers too) aspiring
to hold a technical or high position
Structural Constrains:
• Lack
of mainstreaming training methods for women in the country: As mentioned
earlier in the paper- women hardly get a chance to get themselves in the
mainstream while fighting with the unfriendly and negative environment of
the office. She has to fight each moment to make her job stable and settled.
• Lack of support from ministerial departments: The govt. Departments
are not conscious about women’s awareness or to tap into their potential. It
is the donor’s policies that created the need to empower women. But the
century old habit is not going to change in such a short time.
• Lack
of fund support for training: Mainly the foreign fund is used for
domestic economy- agriculture, different industrial sectors and defense.
Women often lack training in these spheres and hence lag behind their male
counterparts.
Inadequate Infrastructure Facilities:
•
Literacy and education: Though the govt. demands the literacy rate of
Bangladesh is 66%, but this means that of this huge percentage, many can
only sign their names without being able to read and write. For the women
sector in Bangladesh- the situation is more painful as they are supposed to
stay at home (an unwritten socio- religious stigma to kill all the dreams a
girl possess). Though the govt. has begun compulsory free education for all
girls up to SSC to Degree level, but very few girls can go for that. Early
marriage, early motherhood is a very common phenomena and the drop-out rate
from the school too. Even if a girl wishes to continue her study, local
hooligans often restrain her. The law and order situation has deteriorated
so much that sometimes the only way of protest that is left open to girls is
to commit suicide.
• No
specific data to determine gender gaps in particular areas: In many
offices, there is no data base to get an idea regarding the percentage of
women employees. Therefore, it becomes tough for a researcher to get a full
picture after entering a company or NGO. Women – even while working, hardly
gets acknowledged in the office database.
• Insufficient health facilities: Lack of facilities to cater to
women’s particular physical needs are absent in most workplaces. Most rural
and some urban offices cannot provide them with hygienic toilet facilities
or respect their need for privacy.
So many
constrains may appear daunting. A step-by-step approach is advocated where
initially it is felt important to bring about an official awareness of
gender gaps among decision makers in the ICT sector from an early age and to
promote nationwide research with participation of rural women along with
protection of their rights and access to
indigenous product information.
6.
Emerging Needs and Opportunities for Women in ICT Sector: To be
self-sufficient in production, export of indigenous products research using
the latest technologies such as Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering,
Renewable Energy, Indigenous knowledge, Information Technology – all need to
get done for their contribution to ICT, health, environment and education.
On the other hand, these sectors must now be fed with updated information
enabling rural and urban women to act at the micro/macro decision-making
levels. As well as in their long established
traditional practices, cause and effect, why things happen and what are the
reasons for the way things work along with the consequences of certain
practices.
Uses of
Information Technology (IT) to assist women in their current economic
activities, including farming, trade and entrepreneurships are enormous. For
instance, women farmers can greatly increase productivity using IT on
improved technologies, agricultural inputs, weather and markets. Traders and
other entrepreneurs need not only to find marketing information about their
own business. Women’s handicrafts can find niche markets, but marketing and
management skills are needed, and at the same time supply and delivery
problems must be addressed. Some successful developing countries’ e-business
have taken advantage of local delivery. More profitable opportunities exist
for women’s small-scale enterprise in business-to- business and business-to-
govt. market.
IT enabled
communications businesses offer promise for women entrepreneurs following
the model of Grameen Phone in Bangladesh, examples of teleboutiques in
Senegal and Morocco, phone shops in Ghana could easily be followed. Given
high demand, low capital and skills requirements, these businesses are
within the reach of many women in developing countries where Bangladesh can
easily add her name. Bangladesh also can follow the example of SEWA of India
which aims at changing the grassroots levels’ women’s lives through using
their ability and translating their values into working systems- the women
managed to recognize , build on the vibrancy and strength of self-
employment in a rapidly changing society. Bangladesh can take all these
examples to empower the potential women here.
Moreover,
women of Bangladesh have extensive knowledge of plants, animals, managing
natural resources and health care. It is often women (mainly the indigenous
ones) who cultivate crops and utilize the traditional medicinal knowledge.
As women are largely responsible for agricultural activities, household food
supply, health care and other reproductive activities along with being
engaged in numerous productive activities – privatization of their knowledge
can be done through IT.4
7.
Recommendations:
•
Introduction of Practical Based Computer Curriculum for College: An
effective way to disseminate knowledge and overcome fear of technology is to
introduce it at school and college level. The current Secondary Certificate
(SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificates’ (HSC) computer Science syllabus
does not cater for the essential practical skills and necessary acts.
Learning computer is almost like learning sewing – it needs a lot of
practicing. Without imparting practical computing skills, learning theory is
of limited use. As 1st step, a well-designed practical curriculum can help
to make a concrete base for the planners.
•
Introduce a Separate Set of Prizes for Women Competitors: In computer
competitions, as incentives- separate prizes should be kept aside for the
women competitors. Competitions held by the Bangladesh Computer Council and
Public and private universities should have separate merit list for the
women competitors.
• Soft
Loans for Computer Related Business: This should get done to help women
in income generating activities.
•
Special Quota of Competitive Scholarships of Women Studying Science and ICT
Subjects both Locally and Abroad: Women must be educated – at least get
her graduation degree to know the know-how of a computer. As for the scholar
women- it would be very worthy to make up their
lives.
•
Cultural Shows Showing Success Stories of Women Participating in ICT
Sectors: A series of plays showing the benefit of women in education and
science should be commissioned and shown on national TV.5
8.
Conclusion:
Putting
gender issue first in the age of globalization means drawing attention to
the many positive aspects of our new global world that enables us to
communicate and network across national, social boundaries. However, as we
interact globally (and locally too), we must ensure that the effect of
globalization in any form of information, communication, technological,
political, economic or cultural; is always borne in the individual human
being’s mind. There is a pursuit of economic opportunism throughout the
world. Today, opportunity, scope, markets are global bringing with them the
need for labor, ideas, and materials. As the economic situation is changing
rapidly, the New Economy is providing people to shop, work and play globally
at Internet speed, opening up many economic opportunities throughout the
world. For women, economic globalization has created new opportunities in
the field of employment and entrepreneurship. As educated women are getting
accustomed to this new wave, they have no option
but to accumulate knowledge and skills to accommodate themselves to enjoy
the positive sides of the new age. As the fruit of globalization spreads
each day, it is imperative that women educate and train themselves.
Moreover, the government should make policy and quota for these trained
women so that they can use the training and technological developments to
their own advantage. Decision-making authorities who are claiming to be
gender sensitive should be made to realize that an ICT educated woman can
only offer her very best to Bangladesh. A culture of good practices in
empowering women in IT will help to give more meaning to the slogan adopted
in our Sixth Five Year Plan (2003-2008) “Equal Education for Men and
Women-Build a Better Bangladesh.”
