Similarities between Hinduism and Islam - 2334 Words

What are the Similarities between Hinduism and Islam? Hinduism and Islam are two religions that are similar in many ways. In Islam, the religion was created by The Prophet, Muhammad, created in 62 CE; In Hinduism, The religion was created by two different groups, the Dravidians, the first known people in India, and the Aryans, the Indo-European group of people who invaded the Harrapan civilization through the Hindu Kush, and that religion was Hinduism, created nearly 4,000 years ago. Other concepts that they also share are the aspects of the religions like The Idea of Reincarnation, caste system, the idea of a supreme god. Reincarnation in its essence is a religious belief. Many of people to this day believe in reincarnation or some cyclic of rebirth based on the migration of the human soul from one physical body to another. Perhaps the idea is best expressed in the words of Mahatma Ghandi, â€Å"Each night, when I go to sleep, I die and the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn† (Mahatma Gandhi). This quote illustrates the i dea of Samsara, the process of birth, death and rebirth. The process of reincarnation allegedly continues until the soul reaches its full maturity and perfection when it joins its source - God or the Universal Soul(World History). In Hinduism and Jainism, moksha is the discharge from the cycle of rebirth. The individuals who accomplish moksha are brought together with a definitive higher force, or God, and no more needed to persist lifetimes in whichShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Hinduism and Islam651 Words   |  3 Pages Amongst the various religions practice are Islam and Hinduism. Both of these religions are widely practiced by people who believe in the same ideals or concepts. These separate religions are similar to one another, but also contrasting. Common themes can be found between Hinduism and Islam, but the differences are predominant as well. Those who practice Islam are typically Arabic and are called Muslim’s. This practice is based off of the text called the Qur’an. The Qur’an is a bible of sorts toRead MoreChristianity, Hinduism, And Islam1054 Words   |  5 PagesEvery religion has its own goal, and their own believes, however there are also many similarities in their believes. Although the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam may see things differently, they basically hold the same values and codes. To Islam, the Prophet Mohammad’s teaching is a â€Å"complete and final revelation†. On the other hand, according to the bible, Christianity believes that Jesus Christ is the true lord and savior will grant you the access to heaven in the afterlife. JudaismRead MoreComparison And Contrast Of World Religions1194 Words   |  5 Pagestheir specifics, are surprisingly similar. The three most prevalent religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, in that order. All believe in a higher power that presides over and created man. Islam originated in approximately 609 C.E., or Common Era, and Christianity originated around 33 C.E. which is supposedly when Jesus Christ was crucified. The main prophet of Islam, Muhammad, is supposedly of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Both religions consider Abraham the father of the peopleRead MoreDifferences Between Islam And Hinduism1280 Words   |  6 Pages Islam and Hinduism are both very large, popular world religions. Although the two religions have some common ground, there are many distinct differences between the two religions. Many of the differences are centered around two major beliefs. The two major beliefs are the means of salvation and the number of Gods the followers of the religions worship and believe in. Religions often answer questions about spiritual life. A question that is often asked is, â€Å"What happens after death?† Many peopleRead MoreDifferences Between Hinduism And Islam925 Words   |  4 Pagesthis essay. Although there are very similar views between Hinduism and Islam the reasoning behind these, views differ due to the fact that basic key concepts of these faiths differ so tremendously. Although at a superficial glance the ethical viewpoints of Gender roles, Sexuality as a whole, Homosexuality ,and Sexuality as a whole seem almost consistent with one another. Although they differ in more ways than they are similar. Between Hinduism and Islam sexuality is viewed as rite of passage for marriageRead More Religion in India Essay1629 Words   |  7 Pagesbound to be clashes within itself. India has had its share of different religions affecting its structure, but the three main religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. All three of these religions have evolved drastically and have left a lasting mark on where India stands right now. Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. The history of Hinduism extends over centuries, and the lack of early documents makes it difficult to trace exactly. â€Å"Inwardly it changed from century to centuryRead MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Islam1409 Words   |  6 Pages Christianity and Islam were both spread in socially and economically similar and politically different. They both had an important people that role and spread of the religions. Christianity included the individuals of who believe in Jesus Christ. Christians are the flowers of the Christ who often believed is the son of the God (â€Å"the father†); Christians strongly believe that Christ will return after the next life; the end of the world. Islam consists of individuals who believe in Allah, the godRead MoreReligion : Hinduism, Islam, And Christianity1079 Words   |  5 Pagesworship and to follow their practices. A few of the main religions over time have been Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. These three religions consist of ideas and practices that may be very different, but are made up of the same general idea expressed in a new form. Although their main differences, each religion seeks one thing, and that s an afterlife. Most religions are made up of a god or many gods. Hinduism is considered a polytheistic religion, which means more than one god. Hindu beliefs,Read MoreEssay about Marriage Rituals Hinduism and Muslim1169 Words   |  5 Pagesevent in contemporary society. It is a means of building new bonds between two individuals and their subsequent families. The foundations of memorable weddings are built on those that bring often-distant family and friends together for the occasion, while dressed in their most sophisticated attire, surrounded by elegant flowers, a night of dancing, captured through the lens of an exceptional photographer. Although Hinduism and Islam are two extremely distinctive religions, their matrimonial customsRead MoreThe Clash of Secular Thought and Religion1647 Words   |  7 Pagesclash between secular thought and religion since its formation of societies in the classical age. Both have made an equal effect on the culture of each empire by influencing people to change their belief on the world. Major religions have made interactions, which affected some of their ideas for what they have become now. The major religions during the classical age are Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Daoism, and Zoroastrianism. These religions also have similarities and

Essay on Bennis V. Michigan - 1038 Words

Assignment 2 Issue: Under the state’s tort law, does forgery occur when an individual finds a check written out to cash, and was there any intent to injure or defraud. Rule of law: Under Section 30-236 of the state penal code defines forgery as â€Å"falsely making or altering any signature to, or any part of, any written purporting to have any legal efficacy with intent to injure or defraud.† Section 45-3-109d of the state Commercial Code provides that when a negotiable instrument is made out to cash, it is a â€Å"bearer instrument.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (a) bearer instrument refers to an instrument that is payable to anyone possessing the instrument and is negotiable by transfer alone; it is the same as cash.† Analysis: Part 1 1. Falsely making or altering†¦show more content†¦B. Issue: Under the state’s tort law, does the constitutional violation occur when the library refuses to include the organization’s literature among its materials, when it embodies a picture of a burning Koran being stepped on by a spiked boot. Rule of law: First Amendment states, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.† Analysis: Part 1 1. No law respecting establishment of religion 2. Right of the people peaceably to assemble 3. Petition the Government for redress of grievances. Part 2 1. Did the Library affect the organization’s establishment of religion 2. Did the Library affect the organization’s right of peaceably to assemble 3. Did the Library petition the organization’s for redress of grievances Part 3 If the burning of the American flag which is symbolic to the American nation can be burned why can’t the Koran, which is reading material. Conclusion: The case law defines the First Amendment, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for aShow MoreRelatedEffective Leadership Essay1798 Words   |  8 Pagesthem to do as if they have thought of it themselvesâ€Å"(Karns Bean, cited in Parker Begnaud, 2004). Leadership guru Warren Bennis describes leadership as â€Å"those who make a contribution makes a difference in the organization, thus giving meaning to his or her work† (Czarnecki, 2010). Leadership occurs when one tries to influence the behavior of an individual or group (Bennis Nanus 1995; cited in Morley, Moore, Heraty, Gunnigle). LEADERSHIP THEORIES Early leadership theories were called universalismRead MoreEssence of Leadership6795 Words   |  28 Pagesdeclare that I am the sole author of this assignment and the work is a result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. All references have been duly cited†    ii    Table of Contents List of Tables List of Figures iv v Abstract............................................................................................................................. 6    Literature Review .......................................................................................Read MoreHree Most Pressing Issues in Organizational Behavior2696 Words   |  11 Pagesface uncertainty, among others. Bennis and Nanus (1985, p. 259) maintain that â€Å"neither in common parlance nor in the literature on the subject, is there consensus about the essence of leadership, or the means by which it can be identified, achieved or measured†. Leadership remains an elusive subject despite a large body of research from trait models (based on the traits and other characteristics of leaders) to behavioral perspectives (notably the Ohio and Michigan studies), to contingency theoriesRead MoreJustice Is Not Ambiguous : Justice3066 Words   |  13 Pagesnew provision establishing a legal limit to campaign contributions and expenditures. This in turn created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) (Smith. 2003). The act was amended again after the Supreme Court’s decision in Buckley v. Valeo 1976. The decision in Buckley v. Valeo struck down the limitation of individual campaign expenditure, but did uphold the limits set on individual campaign contributions. And in 1979, two more amendments were added to the act, that included; (1) unlimited hard moneyRead MoreModel Thesis31971 Words   |  128 PagesClinefelter, Ph.D. Walden University 2010 ABSTRACT Customer Service Experience: A Quantitative Analysis of Frontline Employees’ and Customers’ Perceptions in the Fast Food Industry by William Yaw Adufutse M.S.A., Central Michigan University, 2005 B.Sc., Central Michigan University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University August, 2010 ABSTRACT Many investigators have documented a continuingRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour Analysis28615 Words   |  115 PagesScribblings, Love Letters and Shopping Lists 31 32 48 48 49 49 50 51 52 53 54 57 58 59 60 60 61 61 62 62 63 64 64 65 65 66 66 66 68 69 Page iv Please do not attempt to eat these notes. Organisational Analysis: Notes and Essays Page v Organisational Theory Introduction to the Workshop This workshop is not primarily about management of organisations, but about organisations and people. There is actually no such thing as ‘management theory’ in terms of a separable area of studyRead MoreEssay about Compare and Contrast Leadership Theories9999 Words   |  40 Pagesafter being praised for showing up to work on time. The use of positive reinforcement is a successful and growing technique used by leaders to motivate and attain desired behaviors from subordinates. Organizations such as Frito-Lay, 3M, Goodrich, Michigan Bell, and Emery Air Freight have all used reinforcement to increase productivity.[28] Empirical research covering the last 20 years suggests that reinforcement theory has a 17 percent increase in performance. Additionally, many reinforcement techniquesRead MoreChange Management49917 Words   |  200 Pagesorganizational norms and values to motivate a multi-cultural and diverse work force; (iv) ongoing examination of the way in which promotion and reward systems operate in a 10 MBA –H4010 Organisational Development And Change diverse work force; and (v) changing the composition of the top-management team to improve organizational learning and decision making. Functional Resources : Each organizational function needs to develop procedures that allow it to manage the particular environment it facesRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesposttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo EditorialRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesApplications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive

The Shape of the Water Stain Free Essays

With my eyes heavy from exhaustion, I roll over and glance at the clock for the eighth time tonight: 2:37am. As I turn back over, my thoughts echoing stresses from the day I just survived, I sigh in desperation. It’s only Wednesday, and despite my intense fatigue and futile attempts, for the third time this week, I cannot fall asleep. We will write a custom essay sample on The Shape of the Water Stain or any similar topic only for you Order Now While I study the shape of the water stain on my ceiling, I try to imagine how many hours I have spent staring at that same spot and how many hours of sleep I have lost over the years. It’s maddening. How can I be so incredibly tired but still find it nearly impossible to fall asleep? When I do finally fall asleep, why do I wake up still feeling exhausted? Why does this keep happening to me?Insomnia is acommon sleeping disorder that causes perpetual sleeplessness, and millions of people suffer from this disorder every day. According to Dr. David N. Neubauer of the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, â€Å"thirty percent ofadults experience insomnia at least occasionally, and ten percent have persistent insomnia. † Furthermore, women, elderly people, and those with specific medical conditions are even more susceptible to the effects of insomnia. Routinely experiencing an insufficient amount of sleep has been linked to many extremely dangerous side effects. As stated by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults with sleep insufficiencies are at a high risk for developing chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, as well as cancer, increased mortality, and reduced quality of life and productivity (â€Å"Insufficient Sleep†). In the book, Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation, written for the National Academy of Sciences by the Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research, Harvey Colten and Bruce Altevogt note, â€Å"compared to healthy individuals, those suffering from sleep loss and sleep disorders are less productive, have an increased health care utilization, and have an increased likelihood of injury,† and alarmingly, â€Å"almost 20 percent of all serious car crash injuries in the general population are associated with driver sleepiness.† With an estimated 50 to 70 million adults in the US suffering from chronic sleep disorders (Colten and Altevogt), this issue and its side effects continue to grow even more concerning.Possible CausesBehavioral IssuesOne possible cause of insomnia are behavioral issues. In the book Adolescent Insomnia, Dr. J. R. Morrison, a professor of counseling, and Brian Storey, a research assistant at the University of San Diego, explain that, â€Å"behavioral issues that cause insomnia include ‘lifestyle’ problems that are not conducive to sound sleep.† Examples of such habits include irregular bedtimes and rising hours, long naps during the day, and use of stimulants like coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages. Irregular bedtimes and excessive napping alters a patient’s internal clock and makes it difficult for their brain to decipher whether it is the appropriate time for sleep or not. Additionally, The National Sleep Foundation states that, â€Å"certain substances and activities, including eating patterns, can contribute to insomnia.† In the article, â€Å"What Causes Insomnia?† the NSF mentions that consuming stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, as well as alcohol and heavy meals can cause sleep disruption. Ingesting or using any of these substances creates high levels of brain activity. A hyperactive brain can make it extremely difficult to fall asleep and remain asleep.Even though lifestyle choices are considered to be a very prevalent cause of insomnia, there are certain researchers who believe otherwise. In the Medical News Todayjournal, Peter Crosta, who studied at Columbia University, says that â€Å"[T]here is often an underlying medical condition that causes chronic insomnia.† He continues to explain that lifestyle choices should not be considered a true cause of insomnia. Crosta believes that insomnia is not based on decisions that a patient makes for themselves, and it is solely based on medical factors alone.Chronic Medical ConditionsAnother potential cause for insomnia are chronic medical conditions. The National Sleep Foundation gives examples of these medical issues; those include â€Å"nasal/sinus allergies, gastrointestinal problems, endocrine problems, arthritis, asthma, and parkinson’s disease.† These certain medical conditions create symptoms like crippling pain, runny nose, constant coughing, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Such symptoms make it nearly impossible for patients to be able fall asleep and stay asleep.In the article, â€Å"Ask Yourself 8 Questions,† in the Current Psychiatryjournal, Dr. David N Neubauer, describes how, â€Å"pain or discomfort caused by a medical condition may undermine sleep quality.† Neubauer goes on to explain that, â€Å"certain cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, rheumatologic, and orthopedic disorders are associated withinsomnia.† Essentially, he is saying that these medical conditions can cause symptoms that would make insufficient sleep more likely. Although these medical conditions causing insomnia is a widely accepted theory, J. R. Morrison and Brian Storey mention in their book, Adolescent Insomnia, that they believe that, â€Å"poor sleep is a learned habit,† as opposed to something caused by a medical condition. They explain that this theory is based upon how people can examine and adjust their sleeping habits and cure their insomnia. They do not believe that this would be possible if it were truly caused by those specific medical conditions.Psychological DisordersAnother possible cause of insomnia is an underlying psychological disorder. The National Sleep Foundation has found that â€Å"Insomnia can be caused by psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety.† Based on their studies, they have found that patients with major depressive disorders are at a much higher risk of developing insomnia. Furthermore, they described that certain symptoms of anxiety, such as tension and excessive worrying, cause high levels of brain activity which leads to chronic sleep deprivation.In the book Adolescent Insomnia, Dr. J. R. Morrison and Brian Storey discuss and explore several different aspects of insomnia. Morrison and Storey state that â€Å"psychological factors [of insomnia] include anxiety and depression.† The pair go on to explain that people who deal with anxiety often struggle to initially fall asleep, while those with depression tend to frequently awaken early in the morning and find themselves unable to fall back asleep. In either scenario, the psychological issue clearly creates a condition where the person is unable to gain sufficient sleep.Even though the evidence seems unambiguous, there is a possibility that psychological issues are not at the root of insomnia. â€Å"Although many people believe that psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety cause insomnia, the reverse may actually be true,† argues Henry Olders, an assistant professor of psychiatry at McGill University in Montreal. Olders bases his claim off of research done by The National Institutes of Mental Health. Their studies found that, â€Å"the risk of developing new depression was 39.8 times higher for insomniacs than for those without sleep problems.† Essentially, both the NIMH and Henry Olders have found that insomnia leads to an onset of depression and anxiety, as opposed to the other way around. Considering the results of this study, there is no way to fully conclude that insomnia is actually caused by psychological disorders.The most likely cause of insomnia is behavioral and lifestyle choices. There are more people in the United States that drink excessive amounts of caffeine, smoke cigarettes, and eat heavy meals before bedtime, than people with serious psychological or medical conditions. This means that most people with insomnia, most likely have made specific lifestyle decisions that caused it. If we do not do anything about the climbing rates of insomnia, our society will experience a higher rate of sleep deprivation. This will add to an already growing rate of motor vehicle accidents due to drowsy driving, as well as other sleep deprivation related disasters. On top of that those struggling with insomnia will e How to cite The Shape of the Water Stain, Papers

The Women of Bangladesh free essay sample

Low Status and Power Bangladesh is one of the worlds most densely populated countries with 150 million people, 49 percent of whom live below the national poverty line. In addition, child malnutrition rates of 48 percent are the second highest in the world, a condition that is tied to the low social status of women in Bangladeshi society (THP). Even though women constitute almost half of the population in Bangladesh, their status has been ranked the lowest in the world based on twenty indicators related to education, health, marriage, children, employment, and social equality (NCBP). Bangladesh is a very patriarchal society and gender inequality is evidenced in almost every aspect of life. Some studies have shown that the majority of women from rural areas are not aware of gender inequality because traditional beliefs keep them in the shadow of their fathers, husbands, and sons (Hadi). Women are dependent on men all their lives because that is what they know. Their traditions and lack of education keep them pocketed away from society especially in rural areas, where after marriage they are not allowed to leave the home unless accompanied by a male relative. Bangladesh is one of the very few countries in the world in which males outnumber females; this provides strong evidence that there is a problem of missing women. Census data from 2001 shows that more than 2. 7 million Bangladeshi women were missing (SIGI). There are no reliable statistics to quote, so estimates on the number of trafficked women and children are difficult to make. The crime is largely hidden despite its pervasiveness. Nevertheless, a total of 335 women and children were reportedly trafficked from Bangladesh in 2002 (BNWLA). In all fairness, it seems that stating â€Å"more than 2. 7 million Bangladeshi women were missing† from the 2001 census may pose more questions than answers especially considering many rural families do not legally record births, deaths and marriages because they haven’t been educated to do so. Son preference is also prevalent in this society leading to female sex-selective abortions, neglect of girls (compared to boys) in early childhood and abandonment (SIGI). A report released by the U. N. Population Fund in 2000 asserted that 47 percent of adult women report physical abuse by their male partner. Much of the reported violence against women is related to disputes over dowries. Assailants who fling acid in their faces disfigure a number of women each year. Many of these attacks are revenge motivated by rejected suitors. Few perpetrators of these acid attacks are prosecuted due to poor investigation and lack of eyewitnesses (OWP). Reproductive Freedom In Bangladesh, the use of the term â€Å"Reproductive Rights† is very recent. The common understanding of reproductive rights is that women should be able to decide and control their own bodies and reproductive behavior. However, many women living in rural and poor urban settings of Bangladesh are victims of physical, sexual, psychological, and human rights violations (Hossain and Akhter). Pregnant women have many potential causes for serious illness and complications during their pregnancy. Early marriage, lack of proper nutrition, and multiple pregnancies are just the beginning. Abortion is not legal, and many women attempt to induce abortion or get assistance from untrained people in less than sanitary conditions. These factors often lead to sterility and sometimes death. The government decides which contraceptives will be made available to women and often due to lack of education; rural women are unaware of what is accessible to them. Additionally, â€Å"women have to take permission from their husbands to use contraceptives (Hossain and Akhter)†. This means that women, especially the extremely poor, do not have a choice concerning the timing of pregnancies. A highly religious and patriarchal culture keeps women on the role of passivity regarding their own sexual health and those who resist are subject to spousal battering, dowry-related torture, marital rape, arbitrary family planning, and sexually transmitted diseases (Henningfeld 98). Sexuality / Lesbianism There is not much written in news articles or reports about lesbians in Bangladesh. In fact, any references to lesbianism are almost footnotes in ublications regarding homosexual men or LGBT. In the article â€Å"An Analysis of Homosexuality in Bangladesh† by Ashok Deb on the LGBT Bangladesh website, the writer describes how invisible the gay and lesbian communities of Bangladesh are and the prejudices they face. Bangladesh has the second largest Muslim population in the world and homosexuality is forbidden in their culture. â€Å"Although not declared officially like [in] Iran,†¦. homosexuality does not simply exist. The combination of homophobia and heterosexism in Bangladesh keeps the majority of gays and lesbians in â€Å"the closet. Lesbians in Bangladesh are dealt a double blow in regard to their rights; being women in a largely hetero-patriarchy society where women do not have the same liberties as men and being the sexual minority whose sexuality is controlled by society, religion and the legal system. Since the Bangladesh culture essentially prohibits a homosexual lifestyle, lesbians are forced to hide their sexual orientation to protect themselves and their families from physical and verbal attacks and/or community rejection. Thus to avoid social abrogation and rejection, a lesbian opts to marry a male partner†¦ (Deb)†. Such â€Å"invisibility† in culture and denial of sexual orientation can lead to serious psychological issues resulting in depression and sometimes, even suicide. Women’s Work In general, women are undervalued both in the formal and informal labor sectors; formal being the workplace where one receives a taxed paycheck and informal work situations such as contract basis, ‘under the table’ and ‘off the books’ (Burn 92). Bangladesh is one of the worst countries concerning gender pay gap, occupational sex segregation, and gender stereotypes in the workplace. The World Bank’s 2012 labor report states that Bangladeshi women make 12 cents for every dollar a man earns! One of the contributing factors to the wage gap is called the human capital approach. This means that women are credited with less education, experience, and life skills to offer an employer versus that of a man, so they can be paid less (Burn 104). However, the young women of Bangladesh are starting to make changes in their lives and in society. Allowing women to work outside the home is one of the first steps to economic empowerment of women. There are still many cultures, Bangladesh included, where women are dependent on men for everything, but that is slowly changing. Women without access to their own money are more likely to be forced to marry young, have many children, and have little to no education. Young women who are in the workforce have better mobility, access to better education and marry later in life. When these women do get married, they have control of their own reproductivity and are more likely than men to put their money back into their family in the form of better food, homes, health care, and education for their daughters as well as their sons. Additionally, their daughter’s will have an even better education and that will give them the skills to make their own decisions about contraceptives, where to work, when to get married and how to use their earnings (Negash). Investing in the women of today can lead to less poverty tomorrow. One challenge for women in the workplace is sexual harassment. The general idea is as follows: typically, men committing unwelcome/ unwanted sexual advances toward women in the workplace. The sex-role spillover theory posed by Gutek amp; Morash in 1982, suggests that how men and women perceive their roles in life (men seeing women in sexual terms and women trained to see this as flattery and not complain) ‘spills-over’ into the workplace. This leads to a few different kinds of sexual harassment; gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention and sexual coercion. Gender harassment is derogatory and insulting behavior toward women. Suggestive comments and physical contact comprise some aspects of unwanted sexual attention and the worst is sexual coercion; sex being required to get or keep a job (Burn 113). However, there is very little written about sexual harassment toward Bangladeshi women in the work force. Unfortunately, several factors contribute to this problem. Women’s unwillingness to report harassment is the biggest one. Reasons that harassment is not reported may be any or all of the following: women are trained from childhood that any talk of the sexual nature is taboo, fear that if they do report the harassment they will lose their job, and worse, fear that they report it and their superiors will do nothing (Siddiqi). The work environment in Bangladesh will not improve until the traditional gender role perspectives are changed by both men and women. Women in Development Households in rural areas of Bangladesh face several major environmental problems. Frequently, access to clean water and poor sanitary disposal contribute to villagers contracting gastrointestinal and other water-borne diseases. In addition, there continues to be loss of natural forest areas due to commercial tree felling for fuel and encroachments on agricultural settlements. Clearly, there is a direct correlation between environmental issues and poverty; the poor are forced to address short-term needs, even if their actions contribute to the long-term depletion of natural resources (Rhaman and Roy). The Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) has incorporated an Environmental Education program in one of its rural development projects, the Comprehensive Village Development Program (CVDP). Since its inception, CVDP has been working to establish a strong institutional framework at the village level with the active participation of the members of the communities (M.H. Chowdhury). There are no short cuts in reducing poverty and increasing economic development in Bangladesh. The CVDP encourages local leadership and community participation by addressing rural problems related to development. The program works to implement strategies to empower the women and the poor in these communities. Women and Religion The major (state) religion in Bangladesh is Islam with Hindu in second position. Early Islam history shows that women were important leaders of the religion but now women are limited in their public participation; women can be leaders only in all female groups. It is believed that the teachings of Islam are opposed to using masculine god language and promote all followers as equal and yet Allah is referred to as â€Å"he† and women do not have much of a public role in the religion (Burn 184). Fundamentalist Islam religious practices are very gender segregated; one reason women primarily participate in religious rituals within the home is because menstruation is considered unclean and they cannot enter a mosque or touch the Qur’an until their period is complete and have taken the ritual cleansing bath (Burn184). Men claim that one of the reasons mosques are segregated is that women are a physical distraction, so men and women cannot pray together (Jehanzeb). Contrary to many Westerner’s beliefs, many Muslim women view traditional Islamic dress as a way to show their devotion to Allah, rather than a form of oppression. The use of the hijab (or veil) to cover the hair and the abaya (a long dress or coat and a headscarf) are expressions of women wanting to please Allah and follow Islamic teachings (Burn 185). Women in Politics Although two women Prime Ministers have headed the Bangladeshi government alternately for the past 20 years, this does not reflect the ratios of gender participation in the Parliament or decision-making at policy level. While there have been many men in the ceremonial presidential position, there have been only the two women, Sheikh Hasina or Khaleda Zia, alternating in the most powerful position of the country. However, even though they held high positions within the government, neither questioned the male dominance of politics in Bangladesh or tried to change gendered political structures in order to allow more female participation. Islam plays an important role in both society and politics in Bangladesh. In 1988, an amendment to the constitution made Islam the state religion. To insure their participation and visibility in politics, many female Members of Parliment observe proper female Islamic dress code by covering their heads in public and participating in public religious rituals to show that they were practicing Muslims. It has always been very important to the people of Bangladesh that their statespeople be practicing Muslims (N. Chowdhury, Women and Politics Worldwide). Despite the two top leaders of Bangladesh being female, women’s representation in parliament is small. The quota of reserved seats for women in the Bangladeshi Parliament is 45. These 45 of 300 total seats do not adequately represent the over fifty percent female votership in Bangladesh (N. Chowdhury). Thus, ensuring that women do not have an equal voice in Bangladesh’s politics. Women who are Members of the Parliament from those reserved seats are considered â€Å"ornamental† partially due to lack of participation but mostly because of the patriarchal views of women in the public sphere. Also, women do not run for unreserved seats on parliament for many reasons. Some state they do not have the funding (because their money is controlled by their husbands), do not want to be linked to criminal activities, and some fear for their lives should they win. The political arena in Bangladesh is filled with corruption and many male politicians buy their way into Parliament or use assassins to eliminate competition (F. D. Chowdhury). Unfortunately, neither Sheikh Hasina or Khaleda Zia used the power of her position to further women’s political growth or enhance their political competency (N. Chowdhury). Gender Equality Movements The Bangladeshi Constitution affirms gender equality but women’s rights are often disregarded. Women and girls are disadvantaged in their access to education, health care, and financial assets (SIGI). Islamic Sharia law regards women as â€Å"custodians† but not legal guardians of their children. In the event of divorce under Muslim law, women can only retain custody of sons until age seven and daughters until puberty (SIGI). The husband has the right of unilateral divorce, for no cause at all. The wife has no such right and when her husband exercises his right; she has no redress. Bangladesh’s largest women’s organization, Mahila Parishad, works to raise women’s awareness and provide equality in the laws that govern the country. Twenty years ago, they lobbied parliament to pass an Anti-dowry law due to the extreme violence against married women over dowries (Burn 252). Although this law is in effect, many families in rural areas still observe the dowry as part of the marriage arrangement. Unfortunately, due to extreme poverty and underdevelopment, women’s equality issues are not seen as important issues (N. Chowdhury, Women and Politics Worldwide). Women in the Garment Industry Over 80 percent of Bangladesh’s garment industry workers are women, which is a large increase over previous studies (ILO). Traditionally, garment industry workers have always been men and when women were first hired, the men were not sure they could do the job. Only after watching women in action did that thought change. Breaking some of the typical gender stereotypes, there are now over 200 garment factories in Bangladesh that not only hire women to sew and iron garments but some allow women to move into ‘cutter’ positions, normally a position only held by men (ILO). Still, occupational sex de-segregation has a long way to go. Some of these companies, like Babylon Garments Factory, are making great strides to create family-friendly facilities; a nursery for worker’s children and free medical treatment/ health care on the premises (ILO). However, there is still a lot of progress to be made before women can break through the glass ceiling in the Bagladeshi workforce. Women and Proper Etiquette There are many subtle nuances of proper etiquette concerning Bangladeshi women such as how to greet them, dining arrangements, and proper attire. Greetings usually only take place between members of the same sex and women will really only be met within a business atmosphere; foreign men should nod to a Bangladeshi women unless she extends her hand and address her as â€Å"Begum† (â€Å"Madam†). Public displays of affection, even between husbands and wives, are considered immoral; particularly in respect to unmarried females (Shrestha). Women should not be photographed unless it is certain there will be no objections. Dining will typically be same sex inside and outside of the home. Proper attire for Bangladeshi women includes a Saree (a type of dress), a Hijab (or veil) worn on the head so that no hair is showing with the common hairstyle, and hair worn in a Beni (twisted bun). Use of Western clothing is rare and exposure of cleavage, thighs and arms is discouraged (Shrestha). In Closing Women represent half the worlds population, and gender inequality exists in every country. Preventing half the people on this earth from reaching its full potential is shortsighted. Society in general is hurt when women and girls are deprived of equality (Negash). For the women of Bangladesh, there are still some huge hurdles to overcome concerning the improvement of education for girls, health and reproductive care for women, and basic human rights. Optimistically, the changes that have already been witnessed will continue to spread so the next generations will be met with a promising future.