Sumaiya Hasi
Commissioning Editor, Oniket Research Group
“Why are you crying like a girl?” When a boy hears this in the classroom, the intention is not simply to stop him from crying. It is to make him feel ashamed of his emotions. The remark suggests that tears, fear and tenderness have no place in masculinity. Beneath this familiar phrase lies a deeper problem in how society views women. Femininity is treated as a sign of weakness, and boys are disciplined by being compared to what society misleadingly considers weak.
The problem goes far beyond a single word or expression. Everyday language in families, educational institutions, workplaces and the media reinforces different standards of behaviour for men and women. These standards shape personal identity, relationships and the distribution of power in society.
The Ideas Behind the Words
A review of 37 studies on masculinity found that conventional expectations of manhood are associated with emotional restraint, toughness and an unwillingness to show vulnerability. A 2023 study involving 40 adolescent boys in Dhaka also highlighted how social expectations of masculinity can influence young people’s mental well-being and behaviour.
When boys repeatedly hear that crying is not for them, they may gradually become reluctant to express their feelings. Similarly, when girls are criticised for being assertive, courageous or capable of leadership, their confidence can suffer. Language does more than express attitudes. It can also limit what people feel they are allowed to become.
Behind Closed Doors
The consequences of these attitudes are particularly visible in violence against women and the control exercised over their lives. According to 2024 data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNFPA, around 70 per cent of women have experienced violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Some 41 per cent reported such experiences in the preceding 12 months. Controlling behaviour, physical abuse, psychological abuse and sexual violence are all part of this reality.
Restrictions on women’s movements, spending, clothing and personal decisions are often justified as care or family discipline. But limiting someone’s freedom in the name of protection is incompatible with an equal relationship. Financial independence does not automatically shield women from violence. When unequal power relations remain intact, a woman’s growing independence may itself be treated as a source of conflict.
A Culture of Silence
Many women who experience violence tell no one. Some do not know where to report abuse or seek help. Sadly, many dont even know what constitutes an abuse, because of social demonstrations and so-called norms. Fear of losing social standing, family pressure, financial dependence and concerns about their children’s future can all keep survivors silent.
This silence should not be mistaken for consent. It points instead to an environment where preserving a family’s reputation may matter more than protecting the person experiencing abuse. Online harassment and technology facilitated violence have made the problem more complex. Effective prevention requires not only legal assistance but also safe reporting mechanisms and reliable support for survivors.
Beyond the Rankings
Bangladesh fell from 24th place in 2025 to 79th in 2026 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index. The country also recorded a decline in political empowerment. These rankings reveal more than a change in position. They draw attention to the barriers women face in representation and decision making.
Progress in education matters, but it cannot deliver equality unless women also have fair opportunities in employment and public life. Increasing women’s meaningful participation in parliament, public administration, business and local leadership remains essential, if not overdue.
The Invisible Barriers at Work
Women’s participation in Bangladesh’s labour market remains far below men’s. According to the BBS Labour Force Survey, the female labour force participation rate is around 38.41 per cent, compared with 79.96 per cent for men. Informal employment, wage inequality, unsafe working conditions and the burden of unpaid domestic work widen this gap.
Women’s work is often treated as a contribution to family life rather than as an independent economic contribution. The same attitudes can affect their access to promotion, leadership and decision making. Addressing these barriers requires equal pay, safer workplaces, effective measures against harassment and better access to childcare.
Care Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Childcare, caring for older family members and managing household work are still regarded largely as women’s responsibilities. Working women are therefore expected to manage professional and domestic duties at the same time. Paternity leave and flexible working arrangements can help distribute this burden more fairly, benefiting both families and workplaces.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals recognise the importance of changing these expectations. Target 4.7 promotes education for equality and human rights, while Target 5.4 calls for recognition of unpaid care and domestic work. Achieving these goals requires changes in public policy as well as everyday behaviour.
Children should learn at home that expressing emotion is not a weakness, household work does not belong to one gender, and courage, leadership and empathy are not exclusive to men or women. Schools, the media and workplaces must also encourage mutual respect rather than tolerate language that demeans others.
“Like a girl” is sometimes dismissed as harmless teasing. But when such remarks repeatedly belittle women and teach men to suppress their emotions, they help sustain a culture of discrimination. Change can begin with a simple choice: to respect another person’s right to grow and live as a human being, without putting them down.
