“Male perspectives must be gender-sensitive”

A leading elocutionist of Bangladesh, Dahlia Ahmed was born in Mymensingh to a Freedom Fighter family. She has given background voice to many stage shows, dance dramas, documentaries and live commentaries. The artiste has recited poetry and dance dramas all over Bangladesh and abroad.

A sense of mutual respect, love and caring is prerequisite to the prevalence of peace and progress in family and society, according to Dahlia. She spoke to this correspondent about 'Pledge for Parity', this year's theme for the International Women's Day 2016. Excerpts:

“Our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam powerfully portrayed gender parity in his poem 'Nari', and Rabindranath Tagore also raised his voice on the subject of gender equality in his poem 'Sobola'. Yet women face gender discrimination and violence both within the family and society. Family, schools, mass media and society can play vital roles to elevate the status of women.  While men need to be more gender-sensitive there are male role models who deserve greater attention."

“We, the artistes, should uphold the issue of gender parity through our creative practice like drama, debate, recitation, music, dance and more. If we can disseminate the idea of parity among the younger generation, we would have done our job.”