Understanding the struggles of Bangladeshi women in coping with climate change through a gender analysis

Abstract

Abstract Climate-induced disasters affect a wide range of communities in Bangladesh. Among them, women are the most affected groups. Climate change increases their socioeconomic vulnerabilities by directly impacting their families’ food security, water consumption, health, and overall livelihood. Unlike in many patriarchal societies, Bangladeshi women often face challenges of unequal social relations and hierarchies, which enforce gender differented vulnerabilities. In this context, this paper intends to reveal what barriers Bangladeshi women face and how they cope with many uncertainties relating to changing contexts, particularly at the household, community, and institutional levels. The paper draws from the author’s Ph.D. research which was carried out in four districts of Bangladesh, focused on four types of climate change impacts and adaptation practices. Qualitative data collection methods were used such as focus group discussions, in-depth Interviews with women, and observations of their household and community-level activities for the study. In addition to that, key informant interviews were conducted with local and national level experts, government officials, and development workers to reveal institutional barriers confronted by women. Findings explore women’s gendered struggles in preparing for and responding to climate change through their lived experiences. Moreover, the study sheds light on the limited gender-responsive environment drawing attention to the need for strategies and actions for gender-transformative approaches to develop climate-resilient households and communities with women at the center.