"Marriage without being educated" by Sidhrah Noha

In this essay, I will state that girls not being accessible to education has caused them to be subjugated after marriage.

Bangladesh is a patriarchy society where the men do not only dominate but are also considered as the asset and women as the liability of the family. Often the parents are reluctant to spend money on their daughter’s education because they are considered to bring nothing in return if given the education as daughters are believed to leave their family behind once married. Some parents instead of spending money on their higher education would rather spend money on their daughter’s marriage as it is the ultimate goal for girls in the Bangladeshi society. Even if some parents do want to invest in their daughter’s education, cannot support their basic education because they need to save up for their daughter’s marriage expense including the dowry. Dowry is where the groom’s side demands money and other expensive gifts during the marriage ceremony but this practice has stopped but it is still rooted in the Bangladeshi tradition, so now the bride’s family gives dowry by means of a gift to their daughter during or after the ceremony. Some families do support their daughter’s education, but still prevents their girls from higher education as it is overpriced. These unfortunate girls are then given marriage at an early age either because their family are reluctant to fund their education or do not have the capability to fund as for them their priority is to invest on their daughter’s marriage.

Another reason why these girls are got married at an early age is to guarantee their social and economic security by their husbands. As the parents of these girls decided not to invest in their studies because of their financial problem are conscious about their social and economic security. The Bangladeshi patriarchy custom has been rooted in such a way that once a girl gets married it is then the husband’s sole responsibility to provide for the house and his wife financially. After marriage, the women are not only limited to do jobs outside because of their less educational background but also now involved to the new set of responsibilities of their new house: the basic household work aka “the unpaid work”. The women have to spend so much time in their household works that they have no time for outside jobs that are paid but again as for the customs once married, women are just meant to fulfil duties towards their in-laws and husband even if that includes cutting all relationship with her own family. The unpaid work is not even considered as work which makes the man think that their wife is inferior to them. Similarly, the husbands do have the controls and power over the resources like property, income as he is the authority of the house and therefore starts being superior to their wives in which they take control for each of their wives’ actions. Husbands of these women knowing their limitations exploit and oppress them mentally and physically, sometimes also to express their superiority they beat their wives over there small mistakes.

Being anxious about their social security and lack of financial support, these women do not raise their voice against injustice done towards them. Many times, the women do come out and speak up about such matter but it is often neglected by their parents because most of the time either the parents are helpless to take any action or do not want to take any as they believe doing something for their daughter after marriage will cause disgrace to the family in the society. Even if actions are taken then they get affronted as these incidences are considered to be the personal matter between the girl and her husband.

In conclusion, due to lack of proper education of girls before marriage had made them not only be financially depended on their husband but so endure agony for the sake of their social security in the Bangladeshi society. To stop these innocent girls, tolerate sufferings, the state should promote more investments for the girl’s education and provide financial opportunities for women with positive discrimination. There should also be strict punishments and penalties for those who will torture another physically or mentally. With these improvements’ there will be chances for women to stand up against the injustice towards them in Bangladesh.