GENDER RELATIONS IN THE FISHERIES COMMUNITY OF MEGHNA RIVER BASIN: CASE STUDIES CONDUCTED IN BHOLA DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study Gender relations in the fishers’ communities of Meghna River basin was conducted to identify gender relations of households in fisheries communities, concentrating on assessing the current situation of the fishers’ communities especially gender relations, problems faced by women, their access to and control over the resources, participation in income and decision making processes. The fishers’ communities of three Upazillas of Bhola, such as Monpura, Charfasson and Daulatkhan were selected for the study and the main participants were the hilsha fishers. Ten different households from each upazillas were selected for data collection in which 10 respondents (70% women and 30% men) were interviewed according to the prepared questionnaire. Five major domains of empowerment (participation in income generating activities; decision making on production input; access to resources; control over income-expenditure; leadership and time spent) were taken into consideration to assess overall gender relation situation of the study area. The study was both quantitative and qualitative by nature. Quantitative data such as demography of the household, fishing and income generation, power over productive resources, leadership etc. were collected through structured interview with closed-ended predetermined questions. On the other hand, qualitative data such as involvement of family members in production, ratio of male and female access in resources, control in income and expenditure at household level etc. were collected by asking open ended question using WEAI (Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index) framework. The findings of qualitative and quantitative data were substantiated by focus group discussions and case studies. Higher percentages of male were found in case of participation in different activities (fishing and fishing related activity) except agricultural and livestock rearing activity where women found higher in percentage in all three of the upazillas. Some exceptions were found in Charfasson and Daulathkhan that less women (20%) of Charfasson were involved in agricultural activity than men (50%) and no women were found involved in fishing though 75% of them were found interrelated with fishing related activities. In case of contributing in decision making, men were found dominating than women in Monpura, Charfasson and Daulathkhan. Women had no participation (0%) in case of decision making about fishing in Monpura and Charfasson, whereas 20% of Daulathkhan women could participated in decision making. Women of Daulathkhan were found participating in almost every matter either singly or combine but men of Monpura and Charfasson did not provide that chance to their women as they have very limited participation in decision making. Women were also found legged behind of men in case of decision making in income generation, ownership, leadership and monetary control. Without a few exceptions like higher number of women had control over expenditure in Daulathkhan, women had very limited involvement in every aspects. Women were found playing various role in those communities like as fishermen, in fishing related activities and decision making but always their men were followed by them. During the study, some factors affecting women empowerment were found, e.g. traditional believe, worked as unpaid or low paid labor etc. Women also faced lacking of educational facilities and became illiterate. Besides this, women were fighting different social and religious obstacles. Those identified barriers are needed to be eradicated as women are vaunted as a “weapon against poverty” and to make women empowered.