Women Scientists & Researchers Forum

A grassroots first

Science, research and medicine are all traditionally male-dominated fields in Bangladesh as they are elsewhere. ICDDR,B has been providing an opportunity for national women scientists and researchers to excel for over four decades but the challenges to balancing work and family life and other gender-specific matters can still be considerable. For the first time at ICDDR,B, women scientists and researchers have come together to create a platform for dialogue on these issues.

The Women Scientists and Researchers Forum is a grassroots staff-level initiative which was inspired by the Centre’s strengthened commitment to gender equity and equality. Members are encouraged from all staff working directly in scientific research activities, from General Service-level and above, to participate in monthly meetings. The forum provides an opportunity to build skills, promote networking and to empower female scientists within ICDDR,B, further operationalizing the Gender Policy through women’s increased participation and representation. Meetings discuss issues such as mentoring and educational opportunities, review articles salient to women scientists, managers and leaders, and are frequently led by guest speakers.

The group's first agenda in 2007 was an analysis of internally-generated data to identify existing barriers specific to women scientists, in order to identify and develop the skills they need in order to achieve the same opportunity as their male counterparts. This exercise helped to prioritize a direction for the group’s agenda for the forthcoming year, which includes working towards the establishment of a national platform for women scientists in Bangladesh.

For more information about the forum contact the convenors Dr Aliya Naheed or Dr Tracey Lynn Perez Koehlmoos.

Women Scientific Forum meeting

Interviews with women scientists

Celebrating our scientists
We spoke to some of our women scientists at ICDDR,B who are developing and promoting realistic solutions to the major health, population and nutrition problems facing the poor people of Bangladesh and other settings.

Dr Tasnim Azim
Dr Shamima Akhter
Dr Ruchira Tabassum Naved

Speaking to our staff

At ICDDR,B as of  April 2009, 49.41 % of the workforce is made up of women. These women work in research, interventions, service and training.

ICDDR,B has a mix of national and international staff, including public health scientists, laboratory scientists, clinicians, nutritionists, epidemiologists, demographers, social and behavioural scientists, IT professionals, and experts in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, vaccine sciences, etc. The Centre has a cross-cultural environment with 95% local staff that includes researchers, medical officers, administrators, and health workers, and 5% international staff primarily from academic and research institutions engaged in global health research

We asked some of our staffs about what it’s like to be a woman in Bangladesh....

What does it mean to you to be a woman?

Nothing different to being a person.  (executive, 26)
 
If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
To change the belief in both the minds of men and women that women don’t need to be limited by what both men and women think they are limited by.    (public health sciences, 36)
 
How can we end violence towards women?
We need to stop/discourage all violence against human beings, which will then eradicate violence against women.    (information services, 35)

What does it mean to you to be a woman?
A woman is at the centre of her family.           (health systems & infectious diseases, 30)

If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
Give women more power & privilege in relationships.    (laboratory, 42)
 
What is the biggest challenge in being a woman?
Always fighting (against men): fighting for education. Fighting in the workplace. Fighting to prove yourself.    (information services, 35)

If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
Transportation.  (executive, 26)
 

What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
Smart, educated, ambitious.   (laboratory, 42)
 
Who is a good role model for young girls in Bangladesh today?
There is none. Very sad...  (executive, 26)
 
What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
Intelligent, active, responsible.  (public health sciences, 36)

What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
Choose your battle wisely. And then win it.   (executive, 26)
 
If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
Increased gender equity at the policy level (especially with respect to violence – criminalise marital rape).     (laboratory, 29)
 
How can we end violence towards women?
Advocate for criminalisation and awareness of issue. (laboratory, 29)
 
Who is a good role model for young girls in Bangladesh today?
Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.  (laboratory, 29)
 
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
Being a mother.   (information services, 35)

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Reminder that you’re not alone.  (executive, 26)

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Why do we have a special day for women? There should be a men’s day too, or a people’s day!  (information services, 35)
 
What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
Expressive, liberal, patriotic.    (information services, 35)
 
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
Nothing special – being a human being!        (health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
Change decision-making roles – in the family and in the workplace. (health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
How can we end violence towards women?
Create a helpline, so that women can find out what to do in this situation; nobody knows what to do in this situation (and I work voluntarily for this service).  (executive, 26)

How can we end violence towards women?
Legislation!  (health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
Who is a good role model for young girls in Bangladesh today?
Elena Khan (lawyer).  (health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
Don’t get too upset; live your life; look forward to your life, whatever happens.  (Health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
What is the biggest challenge in being a woman?
Being shown respect in public settings.    (public health sciences, 36)
 
What is the biggest challenge in being a woman?
Career development.   (health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
Ensure (personal) security for women, especially in rural areas and offices.  (Health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
Responsible mother; honest professional; educated lady.  (Health systems & infectious diseases, 40)
 
What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
Never lie. always be honest. Never become greedy (all told to me by my mother at my wedding.) (health systems & infectious diseases, 40)

What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I’m a human being.  (Public health sciences, 29)

What is the biggest challenge in being a woman?
Men's attitudes towards and about women.  (Public health sciences, 29)

Name one woman who has inspired you?
My mother.   (Public health sciences, 29)
 
If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
The expectation of doing all the household work, in addition to your external income-generation. Conversely, being responsible for the household shouldn’t prevent you from having a job.
(public health sciences, 29)
 
How can we end violence towards women?
By working with men.  (public health sciences, 29)
 
What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
More free; active; confident.  (public health sciences, 29)
 
Who is a good role model for young girls in Bangladesh today?
Giteara Chowdhury (advisor to caretaker government).  (Public health sciences, 29)
 
What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
Believe in yourself. (public health sciences, 36)

If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
To change the belief in both the minds of men and women that women don’t need to be limited by what both men and women think they are limited by.  (public health sciences, 36)
 
What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
Intelligent, active, responsible.  (public health sciences, 36)
 
What is the biggest challenge in being a woman?
Having experienced a higher status as a woman in another (developed) country.   (laboratory, 42)
 
Name one woman who has inspired you?
My mum – she inspired me to study.   (Laboratory, 42)
 
What are 3 words to describe the modern Bangladeshi woman?
Education. Being a good motivator. Maintain cleanliness in all respects. (Hospital health worker, 37)

How can we end violence towards women?
Moral support, mental strength.   (laboratory, 42)
 
What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
Have courage. Keep grounded and have values for career and stability of mind.   (Laboratory, 42)
 
If you could change one thing for women in Bangladesh...?
I do not have any power to change. (hospital health worker, 35)

What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
How to acquire a good education.   (hospital health worker, 24)

Name one woman who has inspired you?
Poet Sufia Kamal.   (hospital health worker, 24)
 
What is one lesson you would like to share with your daughter (niece, etc)?
Not to discriminate between males and females.   (hospital health worker, 36)

Name one woman who has inspired you?
Begum Rokeya Sakhawat (educationalist).     (hospital health worker, 37)

Have your say...
If you’d like to share with us your thoughts about being a woman in Bangladesh, please contact us.