Violence Against Women: A Bengali Entrepreneur Shares Her Story of Economic Empowerment to END🛑 Domestic Violence
Never give up.
Throughout my life, I have met numerous people who taught me the art of not giving up — the art of fighting back. I have met these resilient people in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and right here in the United States. They are vulnerable children and youth growing up in orphanages or youth villages who become successful professionals; they are struggling smallholder farmers learning new agricultural techniques to put food on the table and send their children to school; they are local leaders working to stop climate change; they are survivors of domestic violence.
My first exposure to domestic violence was during my childhood in India, when I learned from whispers within the family that my cousin had been savagely beaten by her husband. Family members intervened, but it only stopped the abuse temporarily. Unfortunately, my cousin went back to her husband, as many women do due to social pressure, economic need, and children, among other reasons.
Spurred by the injustices and inequalities around me, I got involved in social activism at a young age and founded Calcutta Youth Club when I was only 14. Along with other community members, we intervened on many occasions to stop domestic violence.
Forty years later, domestic violence still affects women’s lives. An estimated one third of women in India are subjected to physical, emotional, or sexual violence by their husbands, according to research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Of these women, only one in 10 reports the incident to the police or healthcare professionals. In fact, many women who face violence in the home are reluctant to talk about it at all.
Recently, my friend Ddevjani Mitra made the decision to share her own experience with domestic violence, speaking out online and via other media outlets. After enduring repeated violence from her husband in front of her young daughter and her staff, Ddevjani fought back. It was not an easy journey, and at times she considered giving up and ending her own life. Instead, Ddevjani persevered, and she is now a successful fashion designer, entrepreneur, and social activist.
It took tremendous courage for her to discuss her personal trauma in public, but she is committed to continuing to share her story so others can learn from her lessons: Don’t give up, and the importance of economic empowerment.
Because fashion is so popular, especially among young people and women, it can be a great vehicle for raising awareness on important issues like domestic violence. So when Ddevjani asked me to do a photo shoot for her fashion magazine, I said absolutely yes. I am proud to be supporting her vital work against domestic violence and promoting the value of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for women.
As a bonus, I also see this as an opportunity to bring more attention to sustainable fashion. Ddevjani’s new Bindish clothing line, for instance, uses natural materials like organic cotton, linen, and hemp. The effects of climate change disproportionately affect women, and even small steps to reduce reliance on fast fashion and on synthetic and blended fabrics can have an impact.
Given the prevalence of domestic and gender-based violence in India, the country is unlikely to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, which focuses on gender equality and the elimination of violence against women and girls, by 2030. What’s needed is collective action by policy makers, the judiciary, law enforcement, the media, NGOs, everyday people, local government, and community leaders to put aside political and social differences and — like Ddevjani — take a stand against violence and for gender equality and economic opportunities for all.
Neil Ghosh, president of MGR Professional Services, advisor to Ousri Family Foundation, and former chief executive officer of SOS Children’s Villages USA, is an advocate for vulnerable children and climate action. He focuses on advancing nimble and agile cross-sector collaboration systems to foster sustainable development.
