15_jwe_3-4 UDK: 338.1:305-055.2(549.3) 316.662.2-055.2:338.43 COBISS.SR-ID 219390732 ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER Gender Inequality in Bangladesh Md. Asaduzzaman, M. S1., Kabir, R. N. Ali Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh Radović-Marković Mirjana Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia A B S T R A C T This study focused on gender inequality and its impact on socio-economic development of rural households in Bangladesh. To know the main reasons and areas of gender inequality and its impact on household development the study was carried out in five villages of Sadar Upazilla of Mymensingh District. Data were collected from a purposively drawn sample of 85 from 900 rural households. The study indicated that disparity exists in targeted area, which on many grounds affects the development of rural households. Findings indicated that women had no or low share in income/ earnings of the family, that there was no equal status of women, female were not allowed to work outside home, women were more vulnerable to poverty, women share more burden of productive and household work. The women’s participation rate was higher in cleaning house, child care, cooking and preparation of meal and lowest in case of tree plantation, dairy farming, poultry rearing etc. About 88 per cent women contributed to increase their family income. Male members dominated in household decision, there was no equal opportunity in higher education, physical and mental health for women, and women were facing difficulties in labor market. The participation rate of women in many decisions making process such as marriage, education of sons and 1 Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh Asaduzzaman, M.S., et al., Gender Inequality, JWE (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) 55 daughters, buying health care facilities, use of contraceptive and participating NGOs were very low. Gender inequality increases maternal mortality (92 per cent agree), increase fertility (88 per cent agree), increase dowry (88 per cent agree) and domestic violence (89 per cent agree). Social norms and values restricted women to participate in development activities. KEY WORDS: gender, gender inequality, socioeconomic context, household development Introduction The rural economy of Bangladesh has witnessed remarkable structural changes and diversification during the 1990s. In today’s society, the role of women extends way beyond the home and bringing up of children. Empirical evidence indicates that there are significant gender differences in all spares and family lives in rural Bangladesh. In Bangladesh about 85 percent of women live in rural areas. The rural social structure plagued with many problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, malnutrition and poverty. Even there is the traditionalization of the system and institution that place them in unequal and disadvantages position (Ali, 2012). Women have to perform the dual role of housewife and wage earner. Women participation in home and farm activities is dependent upon social cultural and economic condition in an area. It also varies region to region and even with a region, their involvement varies widely among different farming system, castes, classes and socio-economic status. Women’s opportunities and public involvement have changed extensively in recent decades. For example, major progress has been made in closing the gender gap in school enrolments at both primary and secondary levels (Ferdousi, 2012). In Bangladesh, there are social and religious restrictions on women in doing works outside homestead area. Therefore their activities are confined to child care, household management, kitchen gardening, processing of rice and maize, service etc. The peace of development in any country largely depends upon the people’s participation including women. In Bangladesh women constitute almost half of the population. Bilkis (2010) find family culture and religious values that are taught by the family are the root causes of gender gap in employment. Begum (2005) finds a higher level of gender gap between male and female among the rural households in Bangladesh. Bangladesh are now facing the issues that hinder their development: education for girls, women’s political, legal and marital rights, and 56 Journal of Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) employment outside of the home for women and men alike, lower fertility and reduced child mortality. Yet they have, for a long time, remained economically unproductive in the sense that their contributions to GDP are not acknowledged. A good number of studies on women have been undertaken in Bangladesh, but a very few of these were undertaken to explore the gender inequality in rural households. The study was undertaken with a view to analyzing the impact of gender inequality on the socio-economic development of the rural household in Bangladesh. The focus of the research was to satisfy the following objective: i) to analyze the extent of gender inequality within the household in rural areas; ii) to examine the relations between gender inequality and socioeconomic development in the rural household’s. Methods and Materials Considering the objectives, time and availability of fund and man power, five villages i.e. Bhabkali, Charkai, Naraynpur, Unairpar and Sutiakhali under Mymensingh Sadar upazila in Mymensingh district were selected purposively. The villages were selected considering easy communication facilities and accessibility to the village. Poor rural households mainly farming households were selected from the selected villages. In all 85 sample households were selected where women were participating in different farm and non-farm activities and deprived from different facilities which they require. The study period was January to June 2014. The final survey was conducted during the period from February to march 2014 by direct interviews using a questionnaire. Tabular and statistical techniques were used for the analysis of the data. Results and Discussion Socio-economic Profile of the Selected Households The findings of the study show that socio-economic characteristics of women of the selected households were not different from those of other parts of the country. Majority of the respondent women (84 per cent) were between 18-40 years of age. Average family size was found to be 5.58 persons where male and female was 2.86 and 2.72 respectively. About 19.35 per cent of family members were illiterate, 10.39 per cent could write their Asaduzzaman, M.S., et al., Gender Inequality, JWE (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) 57 name, 59.86 per cent had academic qualification of secondary level; 1.39 per cent had education above secondary level. Heads of respondents household were engaged in agriculture 52 per cent, 16 per cent in business and 32 per cent in service. Extent of Gender Inequality Women get a smaller share of household expenditures on education and health care relative to men. Women’s have less opportunity to visit health center, go to a movie, visit outside the village, and visit friends and relatives. Most of the women were discriminated by their parents at first and then by their husband in the family. Usually parents were exposed different attitude between their boys and girls after birth. Women in family have always been considered subservient to men. Men mostly own the lands owned by the households and women were deprived of this rights. In the family, as women are responsible for child bearing and rearing, they have less scope to go out home for employment, hence most of them are confined to the domestic chores, which are not counted in the accounting procedure of the country, however, there is a clear discrimination with family affairs falling under personal laws governed by religion, where the state is reluctant to become involved. Literacy as well as the significantly higher proportion of female dropout from the system is still a major concern. The situation of female health is still poor. Women Participation and Cooperation of Other Members in Household Activities Most of the household activities were done by women. The women’s participation rate was higher in cleaning house, child care, cooking and preparation of meal and lowest in case of tree plantation, dairy farming, and poultry rearing etc. The cooperation of the family members to different household activities was not sufficient enough. The highest cooperation was seen in case of child care. 58 Journal of Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) Table: 1 Women participation and cooperation of other members in household activities Items of operation Extent of participation (Percentage) Extent of cooperation (Percentage) Regularly Occasio- nally Never Sufficient Moderate Little Cooking & preparation of meals 81 19 0 8 40 52 Vegetables production 46 14 40 34 40 26 Tree plantation 24 34 42 14 32 54 Poultry/ Dairy 52 20 28 12 48 40 Child care 80 20 0 46 30 24 Teaching children 28 36 36 30 22 48 Washing cloths 81 12 7 36 32 32 Cleaning house 92 8 0 31 26 43 Buying daily necessities 24 64 12 12 50 38 Source: Sample Survey, 2014 Women Participation in Household Income Decision Women are often less concerned in the decision making process even at the household level. Women’s participation rate in choice of crop to be grown and buying and selling of agricultural product was 19 per cent and 34 per cent respectively. The women’s participation rate was higher in livestock and poultry rearing 46 per cent and lowest in case of buying and selling of real estate 17 per cent from others. The Table 2 shows that only 31 percent household decisions were made by women. Table 2: Participation of women in household income decisions (N=85) Decision making process Female Male Number Percentage Number Percentage Buying and selling of real estate 17 20 68 80 Buying and selling of agricultural product 29 34 66 66 Homestead gardening 35 41 50 59 Livestock and poultry rearing 39 46 46 54 Fishery operation 26 31 59 69 Purchase of agricultural equipment 23 27 62 73 Working outside the home 27 32 58 68 Employment of the children 22 26 63 74 Asaduzzaman, M.S., et al., Gender Inequality, JWE (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) 59 Decision making process Female Male Number Percentage Number Percentage Borrowing of money 19 22 66 78 Choice of crop to be grown 16 19 69 81 All decision matters 26 31 59 69 Source: Sample survey, 2014 Women Participation in Social Affairs Decision Lastly, women’s participation rates in marriage of sons and daughters, education of sons and daughters, buying health care facilities, use of contraceptive and participating NGOs stood at 31, 47, 31, 61 and 38 per cent respectively (Table 3). The women’s participation rate was higher in child care 62 per cent and lowest in case of expenditure on family maintenance 18 per cent from others. Table: 3 Women’s role in making decisions regarding household and social affairs (N=85) Decision making process Female Male Number Percentage Number Percentage Expenditure on family maintenance 18 21 67 79 Joining social ceremonies or visiting relatives 37 34 48 56 Family planning 35 41 50 59 Marriage of son and daughters 26 31 59 69 Education of sons and daughters 40 47 45 53 Childcare 62 73 23 27 Buying health care facilities 26 31 59 69 Use of contraceptive 52 61 33 39 To give a vote 33 39 52 61 Participating NGOs 32 38 53 62 Repairing house 28 33 57 67 All decision matters 35 41 50 59 Source: Sample survey, 2014 Women’s Response to Mobility Questions Table 4 shows that women are free to move from one bari to another. Women travel outside bari often 68 per cent, 28 per cent sometimes and 4 per cent seldom. However, they are confined in their movements outside of 60 Journal of Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) the village. About 62 per cent women often, 32 per cent sometimes, and 4 per cent seldom travel outside the village and 2 per cent never travel outside the village. When traveling outside, most women (57 per cent) do not wear a burka. Further, very few women travel outside of the village alone (12 per cent). When they go outside the village, other members of the family mainly children (52 per cent) and female members (18 per cent) usually accompanies with them. Table 4: Percentage distribution of women responses in mobility questions (N=85) How frequently do you travel outside…. Often Sometimes Seldom Never The bari? 68 28 4 0 the village? 62 32 4 2 When you travel outside, do you generally wear a burka? Yes Sometimes No 25 18 57 When you go outside the village, who usually accompanies you? No one Children Female relative Male relative Husband 12 52 18 8 10 Source: Sample survey, 2014 Factors Affecting the Level of Family Income The several factors affecting the level of family income were identified for functional analysis. They were land, number of female earning member, women education, women occupation, women income and family size. From the Table 5 we see that, the regression coefficient of land and number of female earning member variables stood 0.154 and 0.099. They were significant at 5 per cent level. The regression coefficient of women income and expenditure variables stood at 0.084 and 0.412. They were significant at 1 per cent level. On the other hand, education and family size were insignificant. The variables selected in the log linear model explained about 8.20 per cent variation in family income. Asaduzzaman, M.S., et al., Gender Inequality, JWE (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) 61 Table 5: Estimated values of co-efficient and related statistics Selected variables Co-efficient t-value Land (X1) 0.154* 4.903 Earning member of family (X2) 0.099* 1.981 Women education (X3) -0.009 0.218 Women income (X4) 0.084** 3.558 Family size (X5) -0.089 -0.095 Expenditure (X6) 0.412** 8.023 R2 0.802 R2 0.765 F-value 21.98 Note: ** = Significant at 1 per cent level * = Significant at 5 per cent level Impact of Gender Inequality on Household Development The Table 6 shows that 92 per cent respondents agree to the statement that gender inequality increase maternal mortality, increase fertility 88 per cent, increase dowry 88 per cent. Gender inequalities also ensure lower nutritional status of women (93 per cent agree) and lower recreational facilities (84 per cent agree). On the other hand due to gender inequality women was become sufferer to different domestic violence (83 per cent). Table: 6 Impact of gender inequality in society: (N=85) Indicators Per cent distribution of respondents Agree Disagree Increase family income 0 100 Reduce family size 36 64 Ensure better health 16 84 Increased family assets 15 85 Increase women income 6 94 Increase fertility 88 12 Increase maternal mortality 92 8 Ensure social development 44 54 Reduce early marriage 24 76 Increase dowry 88 12 Increase domestic violence 83 17 Lower nutritional status of women 93 7 Lower recreational facilities 84 16 Source: Sample survey, 2014 62 Journal of Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) Problems and Cconstraint Faced by Rural Women The respondents were asked to identify the major problems and constraints faced by rural women in society and to suggest some possible solutions. Low payment for same work (59 per cent), low efficiency of women (26 per cent), physical and mental violence against women (76 per cent), lack of sufficient educational facilities (67 per cent), social norms and rules (73 per cent), physical harassment in the working place (57 per cent), low availability of nutritional food for women (83 per cent), early marriage and lack of gender education (79 per cent) were identified as the major problems by the respondent women (Table 7). Table 7: Problem faced by rural women (N=85) Nature of suggestions Number Percentage Low payment 50 59 Low efficiency 22 26 Physical weakness 36 43 Violence against women 65 76 Low quality of education 57 67 Social norms and rules 62 73 Physical harassment 48 57 Low nutritional food facilities 71 83 Early marriage and lack of gender education 67 79 Source: Sample survey, 2014 Solution Suggested by the Respondent Ensuring equal education for both male and female, increased training facilities for women, ensure health facilities, providing same wage to women, providing gender related education to girls and women, taking various steps to reduce domestic violence, reducing physical and mental harassment in the working place were the possible solutions suggested by the respondents in general. Conclusion Gender inequalities exist in rural areas. Regrettably, this has led society to place greater emphasis and value on the role of men and boys in public life and in the work place, as opposed to women’s role in unpaid Asaduzzaman, M.S., et al., Gender Inequality, JWE (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) 63 family labor, care giving, and community work. Since factors that perpetuate gender inequality, especially in rural communities are manifold (e.g., cultural practices, traditional gender roles, gender socialization, poverty and discrimination in access to land) they have implications for policy and research. Structural inequalities continually deprive women of having equal access to social and economic opportunities and services. Gender inequalities could have both short and long-term consequences not only for women but the entire society. Reducing gender inequalities implies benefits not only for women but also for all vulnerable persons and groups. The respondents were found to be able to realize their problems and suggested probable solutions. It is important for government to understand and find out the extent to which this problem is prevailing. References [1] Ali, R. 2012. “Changing Expectations of Gender Roles in Bangladesh: The Case of Female Field Staff of BRAC”. Research Monograph Series No. 52. [2] Begum, H. A. 2005. Empowerment of Women in Bangladesh: TMSS Experience February 28-March, 2005. [3] Bilkis, A., Habib, S. B. and Sharmin, T. 2010. “A Review of Discrimination in Employment and Workplace”. ASA University Review, 4(2): 137-150. [4] Ferdousi, A. M. 2012. “Examining Gender Difference in Socio- economic Development: Implications for Developing Countries”. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 4(3): 8-12. Rodna neravnopravnost u Bangladešu A P S T R A K T Ovo istraživanje se fokusira na neravnopravnost među polovima, kao i na njen uticaj na društveno-ekonomski razvoj ruralnih domaćinstava u Bangladešu. U cilju otkrivanja glavnih uzročnika i oblasti u kojima se rodna neravnopravnost javlja, kao i posledičnog uticaja na razvoj domaćinstava, ova studija je sprovedena u pet sela Sadar Upazile okruga Mimensing. Podaci su prikupljeni iz namenski kreiranog uzorka od 85 od 900 seoskih domaćinstava. Istraživanje je ukazalo na 64 Journal of Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education (2015, No. 3-4, 54-64) postojanje razlika u ciljanoj oblasti, koje po mnogim osnovama utiču na razvoj ruralnih domaćinstava. Rezultati su pokazali da žene nemaju ili imaju mali udeo u prihodima/ primanjima porodice, da ne postoji jednak status žena, da ženama nije dozvoljeno da rade van kuće, da su žene podložnije siromaštvu, da žene preuzimaju veći teret proizvodnog rada i rada u kući. Žene su više učestvovale u čišćenju kuće, brizi o deci, kuvanju i pripremanju obroka, a najmanje u sadnji stabala, izradi mlečnih proizvoda, uzgoju živine, itd. Oko 88% žena doprinosi povećanju porodičnih prihoda. Muški članovi domaćinstva dominiraju u donošenju odluka vezanih za domaćinstvo, ne postoje jednake mogućnosti za visoko obrazovanje, fizičko i mentalno zdravlje žena, dok se žene suočavaju i sa teškoćama na tržištu rada. Stopa učešća žena u mnogim procesima donošenja odluka, kao što su brak, obrazovanje dece, zdravstvena zaštita, upotreba kontraceptiva i učešće u nevladinim organizacijama je veoma niska. Rodna neravnopravnost utiče na rast stope smrtnosti kod majki (92% ispitanika potvrđuje), povećava plodnost (88% se slaže), povećava miraz (88% saglasnih) i nasilje u porodici (89% saglasnih). Društvene norme i vrednosti ograničavaju mogućnosti žene da učestvuje u razvojnim aktivnostima. KLJUČNE REČI: pol, rodna neravnopravnost, društveno-ekonomski kontekst, razvoj domaćinstva Article history: Received: 15 July, 2015 Accepted: 25 September, 2015