‘Motherhood Penalty’: How Female Students are Falling Behind

Sociologists use the term "Motherhood Penalty" to describe the wage disparity and biased treatment pregnant women face in the workplace. However, this phenomenon is no longer confined to professional sectors; it has become a stark reality in Bangladesh's higher education institutions. While working women in almost all public and private sectors are entitled to maternity leave, married female students in universities remain deprived of this fundamental support.

The Academic Burden: Attendance vs. Biology

The primary hurdle for pregnant students is the mandatory attendance policy. Most universities require a minimum of 75% attendance to qualify for exams. For pregnant students dealing with physical complications, this requirement becomes an insurmountable barrier.

The 'Hidden' Struggle: Many students report attending final exams just days after childbirth or hiding their pregnancies in residential halls due to outdated regulations that once restricted married women from staying in dormitories.

The Attendance Trap and ‘Year Drops’

Almost every university in Bangladesh mandates a specific attendance percentage for students to qualify for examinations. This policy forces pregnant students to attend regular classes, exams, vivas, presentations, and assignments, regardless of their physical condition.

The Consequence: Many students, unable to maintain the required attendance due to pregnancy complications, are forced into "year drops," significantly delaying their graduation and career entry.

Voice of the Victims: Personal Accounts of Struggle

Several current and former students shared their harrowing experiences with The Daily Campus:

Asma Maliha (Pseudonym), Dhaka University (2017-18 Session): "I became pregnant at the start of my fifth semester. Due to physical complications, I couldn't attend classes regularly. Since my attendance fell below 40%, I was denied permission to sit for the final exam. I had to re-apply for admission and return home, where my daughter was born. I later resumed classes with a junior batch. To care for my child, I had to bring my mother to Dhaka. Often, I had to take my baby to class. Balancing academics and motherhood left me physically and mentally shattered."

Nawrin Islam Tonny, Dhaka University (2016-17 Session): "I became pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic. When I was five months pregnant, I had to return to campus for my Honors final exams. Since married women were then prohibited from staying in DU residential halls, I had to stay there secretly for two months. My Masters began online, but just three days after my child was born, offline midterms started. I was forced to take a year-long gap. Later, I had to return to Dhaka alone with my ten-month-old baby to finish my degree. Now, due to the limited age for government jobs, I have very little time to prepare. Competing under such pressure feels nearly impossible."

Global and Regional Benchmarks: A Comparative Study

While Bangladeshi students struggle, international and neighboring universities have established clear policies:

The Dhaka University Response: Committee Formed

On June 22 last year, female students submitted a memorandum to DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan demanding maternity leave. Professor Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Pro-VC (Admin), DU, told The Daily Campus:

"A committee was formed following the students' application. Their opinions have been sent to the Deans' Committee. The process is ongoing and may move to the Academic Council. We are focusing on 'Academic Adjustment' and 'Attendance Flexibility' rather than just the term 'leave.' We are looking at these issues through a humanitarian lens to find solutions for session gaps and physical health."

Diverging Academic Opinions

Pro-Reform: Dr. Fatema Rezina Iqbal, Acting Chairman of the Sociology Department at DU, argues that maternity leave is a right.

"A woman’s contribution to society through childbirth is immense. This should be effective in all educational institutions. If a student cannot attend, special arrangements for exams should be made, and fines for special exams should be waived."

Pro-Flexibility: Professor Muhammad Mujibur Rahman (IER, DU) offers a different view:

"University is a place of learning, not a job. You cannot sit for an exam without learning. However, we can extend the maximum duration to complete an Honors degree from 6 years to 7 years for women. We should also establish Daycare Centers on campus and provide 'Special Arrangements' for exams, similar to how we treat students in hospitals or jails."

The Career Link: PSC and Age Limits

The "Motherhood Penalty" extends to the job market. Women often face a gap in their studies or job preparation due to marriage and childbirth.

• The Demand: Students are calling for an increase in the age limit for women to enter government jobs to compensate for these lost years.

• Commission Recommendation: Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, head of the Public Administration Reform Commission, stated: "We recommended the age limit be 35 for men and 37 for women. Given family obligations and the time lost during childbirth, we found a two-year extra window for women to be logical."

• PSC Stance: Professor Mobasser Monem, Chairman of the PSC, clarified that the age limit is a government decision. "If candidates demand an age increase from us, we will inform the government. We will implement whatever the government decides."

Legal Framework

Under the Bangladesh Labor Act 2006, working women are entitled to four months of paid maternity leave. Under Bangladesh Service Rules, permanent government employees receive six months. Experts like Abu Kishwar Hossain Joy (Chairman, Population Sciences, DU) argue that while the state is obligated to provide facilities, any change in age limits must be backed by research on how many women are actually being held back by these factors.