FACTS SHEET OF WOMEN'S POVERTY IN BANGLADESH

One aspect of women’s poverty is that the total number of poor women is higher than that of poor men. Various micro studies indicate that the ‘hard-core’ poor are largely women. The number of ultra poor (measured by food intake of 1,600 k.cal/person/day) and extreme poor (food intake of 1,805 k.cal/person/day) is higher in female headed households than in male headed households. The HIES (Household Income and Expenditure Survey) 2012 shows that about 29 percent of divorced or widowed women live below the lower poverty line against the national average of 25 percent. 

Customary biases and intra-household inequalities lead to lower consumption by and fewer benefits for women and girls among low-income households. Intra-household inequalities exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls.

Women’s social subordination makes them more vulnerable to poverty. Women have few 
rights and choices in taking personal decisions regarding education, marriage, child bearing, 
family expenditure pattern, and participation in labour market and income generating activities. Discrimination against women at the social level is reflected in their movement limited within the homestead, lack of mobility in the public space, early marriage (average age at marriage for women is 20.2 years while that for men is 27.6 years) and the practice of dowry. Women have weak protection socially and legally in the event of break-up of marriages. They fall easily in the trap of trafficking.