The Place of Women in Public Space : A Case Study of Street Harassment in Bangladesh

Abstract: Sexual harassment on the streets is a prevalent issue worldwide and most of it takes place in the cities. The issue has been addressed by various international agencies and governments. However, the problem still persists and affects the daily lives of people, especially women and girls. It affects their daily commuting patterns and it has impact on their decisions about whether to be present in public spaces or not. This thesis is about sexual harassment on the streets of Bangladesh experienced by women while they travel by bus and on foot. The theoretical part of this qualitative case study undertaken as a desk study consists of feminist theory on sexual harassment and explanation of the relationship between participation and patriarchal gender norms. The main arguments presented in this work are that street harassment against women in Bangladesh results partly from the patriarchal norms and gender inequalities present in the society. It is also argued here that the low involvement of women in the planning and decision-making processes affected by patriarchal structures of Bangladeshi politics constitutes a potential barrier to elimination of sexual harassment on the streets.