Justification of Rape and Violence in Bangladesh: A Cultural Perspective

By
Adeeba Khan 2021020649
Tasnim Jahan Mowla 2031006630
Nusaiba Shafi 2031229647
Shamima Rahman Shila 2031231647
Anika Nawar 2031319620
Anika Tabassum Amreen 2031544620

Section 6
North South University

To
Dr. Abdul Wohab
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science and Sociology
North South University

Research Report Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the SOC101 Course

19th August, 2021

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Introduction

In Bangladesh, rape is comparable to an epidemic fueled by our culture, where victim blaming is
rampant and the crowd focuses on character assassinating victims instead of pointing fingers at
the rapists (Mamun, 2020). As a result, many rape survivors of Bangladesh, like the 19 year old
Rani*, haven’t reported to the police as they refuse to “fight a battle they have already
lost”(Khan, 2020). Victims in our culture live life as a “tainted” woman, destined to lifelong
humiliation and public scrutiny, while perpetrators move around freely, entitled to inherent
natural urges. Justification of rape reflects the patriarchy in Bangladesh. It disregards women’s
rights and gives perpetrators incentives to recurrently commit sexual crimes (Das, 2021). This
research report will demonstrate evident impacts of culture on rape and violence as well as the
relationship between justification and our culture.

Methodology

This research follows a mixed method paradigm collecting both quantitative and qualitative data.
A questionnaire survey was conducted using Google Forms consisting of 9 multiple choice
questions. Responses collected from a diverse set of participants were assessed through ‘Random
Sampling’. The researchers shared the link on various messenger groups with varied
demographics and data evaluation was done using statistical analysis. For qualitative analysis,
findings of various newspapers and journals in relation to rape and violence in Bangladesh were
critically investigated using ‘Purposive sampling’.
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Analysis

The study was conducted with wide ranged demographic variables to welcome a copious amount
of responses and higher accuracy. The sample consisted of 163 females and 144 males. Majority
were university students (63.1%) aged between 19 to 25 years old. The following table and
charts illustrate the composition of the sample.
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Analysing the pie charts, 55.2% of the participants have or know someone who has experienced
rape or violence, reflecting the frequency of crime in our society.
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An overwhelming majority of 79.5% of the participants also agreed that rape and violence is
justified in our society.

According to null hypothesis (H0), the survey outcome is independent of respondent's gender.
Majority agreed to the cause of justification in our society. A statistical analysis was conducted
by testing the null hypothesis using the Chi Square Contingency Table. Obtaining a value of
0.08, insignificant compared to the value at 5% significance level, the null hypothesis was
accepted. Thus, there’s sufficient evidence that the majority, regardless of gender, supports the
hypothesis regarding Bangladeshi culture being impactful over justification of rape and violence.
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Of the many inconsiderate excuses used as a tool of justification, participants feel that wearing
seemingly revealing clothes (55%) and going out alone at night (42.3%) are most common.

They further conceded that fear of victim blaming (41.7%) and family reputation at stake
(36.5%) are primary reasons for underreporting rape and violence. Majority of them (44.2%) also
believe that fear of injustice, societal exclusion, bullying and being blackmailed by perpetrators
are equally responsible for deterring victims from reporting.
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The study concluded that misogynistic culture, (72.1%) which includes victim blaming, absence
of justice (66%) and the attitude of influential leaders (41.3%) are the reasons behind the
prevalence of rape and violence in Bangladesh.

Feminist theory has further broadened our understanding of rape and violence (Morris,
2017). According to the theory, rape is sexually-driven and the most powerful demonstration of
male supremacy. Bangladesh being a patriarchal society, rape depicts male dominance for social
control (Das, 2021). Feminist theory argues that the valuing of dominant forms of patriarchal
society results in oppression and marginalizing of women, and the heart of the debate lies in our
misogynistic culture where victim blaming is pervasive.

Consequently, rape is weaponized in Bangladesh to silence women and to ‘show them

their place’ (Sayeed, 2021). It is a product of our mentality where men manifest their power
through dominance and women must be submissive. Women’s bodies are further subjected to
objectification where a prominent Islamic speaker even compared uncovered women to tamarind
fruit which is only normal for men to ‘drool’ seeing them (Sayeed, 2021). This reflects our
perception of unveiled women to be open invitations and teaches men to feel remorseless as she
was basically ‘asking for it’. However, if clothing and unrestricted movement are the primary
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reasons for rape, then infants, men, bedridden elderlies and women in full Islamic attires
wouldn’t be raped. Thus, rape is the manifestation of male sexual entitlement. (Kumu, 2021).
Studies show that 82% of rural and 79% of urban Bangladeshi men cited entitlement as their
reason for rape, of which 61.2% feel no guilt (Fulu et al., 2013). They know that they will face
minimum legal and social repercussions, and the consequences will be rather severe for the
victim-who is most likely to be silenced by the society.

Conclusion

Overall, the results of the statistical analysis concludes that majority of the participants,
regardless of their gender, believe rape and violence is justified in Bangladeshi culture. Abundant
votes are evidence that culture-fostered misogyny, where sexual assault is trivialized and
questions are raised on victim’s clothes and unrestricted movement, is the leading cause of rape
and violence. Ample votes in the survey suggest that unimplemented justice, patriarchal society
and sexist attitudes of influential leaders play a role in promoting this epidemic. Feminist
perspective contends that rape thrives on male dominance and entitlement. In places where
perpetrators are excused and victims are stigmatised, one can only expect crime to exacerbate.
Therefore, the alarming rise of rape and violence is a product of societal justification. The study
concludes by recommending zero tolerance towards perpetrators, redefining masculinity and
broadening the understanding of rape culture to counter sexual offence in Bangladesh.
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References

Das, S. (2021). Rape in Bangladesh: An Epidemic Turn of Sexual Violence. Harvard

International Review. Retrieved from:
https://hir.harvard.edu/rape-in-bangladesh-an-epidemic-turn-of-sexual-violence/

Fulu, E., Warner, X., Miedema, S., Jewkes, R., Roselli, T. & Lang, J. (2013). Why Do Some Men
Use Violence Against Women and How Can We Prevent It? UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women
and UNV. Retrieved From:
https://www.undp.org/content/dam/rbap/docs/Research%20&%20Publications/womens_e
mpowerment/RBAP-Gender-2013-P4P-VAW-Report.pdf

Khan, U. (2020). ‘I’m alive but not living’: Survivors of Bangladesh’s rape crisis. Al Jazeera.
Retrieved from:
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/10/26/survivors-of-bangladeshs-rape-epidemic

Kumu, S. A. (2021). Examining The Reasons Of Growing Rape Incidents In Bangladesh.

International Affairs House. Retrieved from:
https://www.internationalaffairshouse.org/examining-the-reasons-of-growing-rape-incide
nts-in-bangladesh/

Mamun, S. (2020). A look at the factors behind the rape culture in Bangladesh. Dhaka Tribune.
Retrieved from:
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/10/11/a-look-at-the-factors-behind-the-r
ape-culture-in-bangladesh
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Moris, J. (2017) Rape can never be justified, yet an alarming number of Europeans think it can.
World Economic Forum. Retrieved from:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/02/rape-sexual-assault-european-union/

Sayeed, S. (2021). Rape Culture and Culturally Raped in Bangladesh. The Shiloh Project.
Retrieved from:
https://www.shilohproject.blog/rape-culture-and-the-culturally-raped-in-bangladesh/