Sorofa Bibi Biography

Biography:

Name: Mst.Sorofa Bibi

Date of Birth: 12-06-1945

Husband Name: Late Md.Aftab Uddin Pramanik

Village Name: Krishnanagarna Joypurhat

Sub-District: Khetlal

District: Joypurhat         

                                                          

Women position on my grandmother’s time

Purdha system

In her time women, mobility and autonomy were restricted. If they wanted to go outside the home they had to use purdah. It was customary rules and regulations in Muslim society. If they didn’t obey this rules, they had faced punishing.

Division of Labor by Gender

Women traditionally were in charge of household affairs and are not encouraged to move outside the immediate neighborhood unaccompanied. Thus, most women's economic and social lives revolve around the home, children, and family. Islamic practice reserves prayer inside the mosque for males only; women practice religion within the home. Women were not generally publicly active in politics. Men were expected to be the heads of their households and to work outside the home. Men often do the majority of the shopping, since that requires interaction in crowded markets. Men spend a lot of time socializing with other men outside the home.

Marriage

 Marriage was almost always an arranged affair and takes place when the parents, particularly the father, decide that a child should be married. Men marry typically around age twenty-five or older, and women marry between ages fifteen and twenty; thus the husband was usually at least ten years older than the wife. Muslims allow polygamous marriage, but its occurrence was rare and was dependent on a man's ability to support multiple households. A parent who decides that a child is ready to marry may contact agencies, go-betweens, relatives, and friends to find an appropriate mate. Of immediate concern were the status and characteristics of the potential in-law's family. Generally, an equal match was sought in terms of family economic status, educational background, and piousness. Father doesn’t allow them to choose.

An arrangement between two families may be sealed with an agreement on a dowry and the types of gifts to be made to the groom. Among the educated, the dowry practice was no longer prevalent. Divorce was a source of social stigma. A Muslim man may initiate a divorce by stating "I divorce you" three times, but very strong family pressure ordinarily ensures that divorces do not occur. A divorce can be most difficult for the woman, who must return to her parent's household.

Domestic Unit.

The most common unit was the patrilineally-related extended family living in a household called abarhi. A bar was composed of a husband and wife, their unmarried children, and their adult sons with their wives and children. Grandparents also may be present, as well as patrilineally-related brothers, cousins, nieces, and nephews. The oldest man was the authority figure, although the oldest woman may exert considerable authority within the household. Abarhi in rural areas was composed of three or four houses which face each other to form a square courtyard in which common tasks are done. Food supplies often were shared, and young couples must contribute their earnings to the household head. Cooking, however, often was done within the constituent nuclear family units.

Inheritance.

Islamic inheritance rules specify that a daughter should receive one-half the share of a son. However, this practice was rarely followed, and upon a household head's death, the property was divided equally among his sons. Daughters may receive produce and gifts from their brothers when they visit as "compensation" for their lack of an inheritance. A widow may receive a share of her husband's property, but this was rare. Sons, however, were custom-bound to care for their mothers, who retain significant power over the rest of the household. Kin Groups. The patrilineal descent principle is important, and the lineage was very often localized within a geographic neighborhood in which it constitutes a majority. Lineage members can be called on in times of financial crisis, particularly when support was needed to settle local disputes. Lineages do not meet regularly or control group resources.

Infant Care.

Most women give birth in their natal households, to which they return when childbirth was near. A husband was sent a message when the child was born. Five or seven days after the birth the husband and his close male relatives visit the newborn, and a feast and ritual haircutting take place. The newborn was given an amulet that was tied around the waist, its eye sockets may be blackened with soot or makeup, and a small soot mark was applied to the infant's forehead and the sole of the foot for protection against spirits. Newborns and infants were seldom left unattended. Most infants were in constant contact with their mothers, other women, or the daughters in the household. Since almost all women breastfeed, infant and mother sleep within close reach. Infants' needs are attended to constantly; a crying baby was given attention immediately.

Child Rearing and Education.

Children were raised within the extended family and learn early that individual desires were secondary to the needs of the family group. Following orders was expected on the basis of age; an adult or older child's commands must be obeyed as a sign of respect. Childcare falls primarily to household women and their daughters. Boys had more latitude for movement outside the household. Between ages five and ten, boys undergo a circumcision (Mussulmans ), usually during the cool months. There was no comparable ritual for girls, and the menarche was not publicly marked. Most children begin school at age five or six, and attendance tends to drop off as children become more productive within the household (female) and agricultural economy (male). The higher a family's socioeconomic status, the more likely it was for both boys and girls to finish their primary educations. Relatively few families could afford to send their children to school. While school attendance drops off overall as the grades increase, females stop attending school earlier than do males.