FACTORS DETERMINING EMPOWERMENT OF AGED WIDOW IN RAINGAMARI VILLAGE OF BATIAGHATA THANA IN KHULNA DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study mainly focused on recognizing the influence of socioeconomic factors to determine empowerment for aged widow. Two hundred randomly selected widow (aged 60 and above) from Raingamari village of Batiaghata thana in Khulna District were interviewed by administering a semi-structured interview schedule. Findings of the study revealed that age of the widow had statistically significant relation (p <0.047) with women empowerment index while living arrangement, occupational status, personal income, saving and land ownership were also significantly related with women empowerment. On the other hand, year of schooling had insignificant relationship (p >0.163)with women empowerment index, whereas duration of being widow was negatively related with empowerment of women (p >0.250). Additionally, total household income also had no significant relationship with empowerment process. Moreover, correlation coefficient of this study exposed that lower age of the respondents indicated higher women empowerment index (p<0.035). Furthermore, higher the income of the respondent, savings, landed property and household assets ensured higher women empowerment. Finally, the study, therefore, concluded that widow’s economic independence, in terms of income, savings and ownership of land or household assets, is the most influential factors to determine their level of empowerment than the non-economic factors, i.e. year of schooling, duration of being widow and living arrangement.