Comparison of Status Assignment between Muslim and Santal Communities in Rural Bangladesh
Md. Emaj Uddin *
Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
G. M. Abdul Wahab
Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
Md. Awal Kabir
Department of Social Work, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Pabna, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Age and sex status assignment is a subjective aspect of human culture. Comparison of these aspects of human culture is neglected in Bangladesh. Purpose of the study was to examine and compare age and sex status assignment between Muslim and Santal cultures in Bangladesh. In so doing, 70 respondents from the Muslim and 30 respondents from Santal culture were randomly selected from the village Kalna, situated in the Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. Data on age and sex status assignment in age-at-marriage, motherhood, family authority and kinship were collected, using questionnaire method with interview technique. The collected data were analyzed, using independent sample t-test. The descriptive findings revealed that age and sex status assignment in the Santal culture was earlier than that in the Muslim culture in rural Bangladesh. In addition, both the cultures prefer patrilineal kinship. These cultural behaviors of age and sex status assignment were significantly different between the Muslim and Santal cultures in Bangladesh. The findings may have implications for future research.
Keywords: Muslim culture, Santal culture, cultural behaviors, family status assignment