Fighting gender-based violence-

Gender-based violence is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. Some 39 per cent of adolescent girls experience psychological abuse, 32 per cent suffer physical abuse and 14 per cent endure sexual and economic abuse, according to a study conducted by Educo Bangladesh. The findings of the study are alarming. However, most of the victims feel reluctant to share incidents of gender-based violence with others. As a result, perpetrators continue to commit such crimes.

There are many factors that contribute to the rising number of gender-based violence against girls and women. One such thing is television plays. We often come across different forms of highly charged gender-based violence in television plays. And there are no trigger warnings before scenes of abuse or violence, which can often be distressing for the viewers. There is plenty of research demonstrating that intense levels of violence shown as entertainment normalise violence and desensitise the audience. Consequently, it contributes to an increase in imitative acts of aggression and violence in young viewers. Such scenes are frequently justified as showing the reality of our society. We agree that domestic violence is a real problem and TV dramas can play an important role in starting a conversation about it. Yet, it is irresponsible to show popular male leads with a large fan following get aggressive with women on-screen. In our country, women are frequently subjected to domestic violence. Therefore, such scenes should be handled sensitively otherwise they send off the wrong message.

Regulatory bodies and TV channels and production houses need to be cognizant of the negative effects of the content they are creating and allowing to be broadcasted. They must explore decent ways of depicting the realities of life for a family audience. According to the Educo Bangladesh study, nearly 38.9 per cent of adolescent girls feel reluctant to share incidents of gender-based violence with others. But the victims of gender-based violence should be vocal against the crimes. And we need to ensure a safe environment for our girls and women.

Ashikujaman Syed,

Foreign Service Officer,

Anhui Haikang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd,

Anqing, China,

syedashikujaman@yahoo.com