Sexist attitudes that women are weaker, not as intelligent, not as driven, not as capable, etc., is a nationwide plague which may have inescapably found a cozy cranny within BRAC in which to breed. As more and more women join the BRAC workforce, this needs to be looked at more closely.

A ten-member Women's Advisory Committee (WAC) has been set up to watch, identify and address matters relating to "gender adjustment," especially at camp offices in the field. WAC will investigate into discrimination against women, imposition of any social or work    ''norm'' on staff because of gender, or any other "socio-professional" issue that may arise.

The main issues raised so far during its meetings include: different social behaviors expected of female and male Programme Organizers (POs), restricted female mobility during non-working hours, women's housing, and maternity leave.

One method WACis particularly using is to make senior field staff aware of what may or could be happening, and to make everyone else in the organization know that BRAC will not accept sexist attitudes.

Sutapa, a female PO at Manikgonj says that: ' 'I think it is great to sit and discuss these issues with our supervisors." In response to a statement that women were not good at community based programmes such as irrigation, power tilling, Sutapa says "So far I have not had any major problem in my work due to my gender." "As a PO, "she added, "not only did I successfully manage the programmes, I also looked after male village organizations without any hassle." On the issue of female mobility, Sutapa reveals that' 'It is basically a question of managing time and adapting work to suit you." "For example," she continues, "because I find commuting alone at night uncomfortable, I arrange my schedule so that I can avoid traveling after dark."

SOURCE: ACCESS, June 1991