On March 13, 2023, a panel discussion was held on the topic of gender equity and the role of women in higher education and their role as leaders in the global sphere. The event was organised by Social Impact Lab BRACU and School of General Education BRACU as a part of the OSUN Gender Equity Month celebration. The discussion was moderated by Patricia Nae, the coordinator for Civic Engagement Programs at Open Society University Network(OSUN) and Central European University in Vienna, Austria, and featured a panel of inspiring speakers from different backgrounds and countries.
The panelists included Professor Ava Hossain, the President of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Marufa Akter, an associate professor at the Department of Global Studies and Governance in Independent University of Bangladesh, and Zarlash Sharmast, the coordinator for the Global Engagement Fellows program, OSUN and the director and CEO of the project "Afghanistan Politics on the Verge of Transformation."
The panel discussion began with opening remarks from Dr. David, the Registrar of BRAC University, and was followed by an insightful and thought-provoking discussion among the panelists. He expressed his appreciation for such a significant event within the Open Society University network. He highlighted the fragility of society and the importance of becoming a social activist in order to help build and safeguard an open and inclusive society. Dr. David also emphasized the fundamental importance of gender equality and female empowerment to human flourishing, which is a core value of the BRAC movement.
The event also addressed issues beyond the representation of females in senior leadership positions and in research, such as the relatively low numbers of females in science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as various barriers and issues of depreciation and even harassment. It was noted that there is a long way to go in achieving gender equity, but progress has been made, particularly in the representation of females in higher education across the world.
One of the main topics discussed was the importance of gender equity in higher education and leadership positions. The panelists shared their own experiences and highlighted the challenges that women face in accessing leadership roles in higher education and the need for systemic change to address gender disparities.
Professor Hossain, the first woman to hold the position of President of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, shared her experience of breaking barriers in a male-dominated field and encouraged young women to pursue their dreams, regardless of societal expectations.
Dr. Akter discussed her research on gender politics and women and the need for substantive representation of women in Bangladesh. She emphasized the importance of creating equal opportunities for women and highlighted the role of education in achieving gender equity.
Zarlash Sharmast shared her experience of working with Afghan women and the challenges they face in accessing education and leadership positions, particularly in light of the recent political situation in Afghanistan. She emphasized the need for international support to ensure that Afghan women can continue to access education and participate in leadership roles. She is a director and CEO of the project Afghanistan Politics on the Verge of Transformation, has been part of the team that has been evacuating a large number of scholars from Afghanistan to partner institutions across OSUN. Additionally, she has been creating a photo story book titled A Journey from Kabul to Bishkek, documenting the travel and stories of Afghan scholars who were forced to leave their country and move to a safer place. This book is a testament to the resilience of these individuals and highlights the importance of providing opportunities for education and empowerment, particularly for women.
The students raised some interesting points once the floor was opened up to discussion. It was previously stated that to ensure gender equity, both men and women would need to work alongside each other, else this would be an impossible task. In relation to this, one of the main points of contention was how certain groups, mainly men, feel threatened or emasculated by the empowerment of women. This is obviously a major misconception on their part as the feminist movement does not try to separate any of the genders, but aims to achieve equal human rights for all. To alleviate this issue, the students discussed that young men needed to have positive role models to look up to. This is especially important during early development. As such, the responsibility falls on the family to educate their children about gender equity so that such misunderstandings do not pervade their lives in the future.
Another point of contention raised was why women did not seek the help of authorities when it came to any sort of inequality, especially domestic violence. While it is true that laws exist to safeguard women from such transgressions, the enforcers of said laws are patriarchal in nature, and so most pleas for help fall on deaf ears. The victims are instead blamed for the harm that befell them. At the same time, the women, who are usually housewives, have no other way to support themselves and their children without relying on their husbands even if they are treated cruelly.
The collaboration with the Social Impact Lab of BRAC University is noteworthy as it demonstrates the university's commitment to promoting social entrepreneurship and civic engagement with an international dimension. SIL is eager to take an active role in promoting gender equality by supporting projects that foster female leadership and entrepreneurship. One such project involves bringing together women from diverse regions to collaborate on climate change entrepreneurship in higher education spaces. Moreover, it is dedicated to actively participating in these events and initiatives to help create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Overall, the gender equity event was an important forum for addressing issues related to gender equity and female empowerment, particularly in light of recent developments in Afghanistan. The panel discussion highlighted the importance of gender equity in higher education and leadership positions and the need for systemic change to address gender disparities. The panelists emphasized the role of education in achieving gender equity and encouraged young women to pursue their dreams and break barriers, regardless of societal expectations. The discussion was a reminder that gender equity is not only a matter of social justice but also a necessary condition for achieving a more just and equitable society. It is hoped that events such as these will inspire more people to become social activists and work towards building and safeguarding an open and inclusive society.
About Sreya Sanyal Puja
Managing the Research and Development team