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Accepted Paper:
The Doing and Undoing of Sexual Violence in Bangladesh: How Medical Anthropology Unearthed Some Uncomfortable Truths
Shahana Siddiqui
(University van Amsterdam)
Public health response to sexual violence in Bangladesh emerged out of activism, operationalized as a development intervention, seldom viewed as a health crisis. Ethnography provides an insight into the subjective nature of health provisions towards sexual assault, continuing health disparities.
Paper Abstract:
Despite the economic progress of the country, Bangladesh continues to have high rates of incidences of violence against women. Over the years, through civil society activism and government cooperation, one stop crisis centers have been established throughout the country. Yet, there is limited information and understanding of how exactly does the health system work when providing services to survivors. By conducting an extensive hospital ethnography at the largest teaching hospital in Bangladesh, an in-depth understanding of public health responsiveness to sexual violence comes to light, along with uncomfortable truths about sexual relations, sexuality, class relations, and subjective nature of authoritative knowledge in regards to female bodies and gendered health. This paper argues that the undermining nature of the health sector towards issues of violence against women, perpetuates a culture of health disparities against women in Bangladesh. While medical anthropology was able to shed some light on to this ongoing "neglect" in gendered health services, this part of medical provision in Bangladesh require further inquiry in bringing about health equity and social justice for women and survivors.