Female migrants in an urban setting — the dimensions of spatial/physical adaptation: The case of Dhaka

Abstract

This paper outlines poor female migrants' adaptation process with respect to the spatial/physical dimension in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The striking growth of Dhaka during the period 1961–1981 has been attributed to rural-urban migration and the absolute number of poor has risen. In 1991 Dhaka SMA received more than 40% of the total rural in-migrants. This paper is based on data obtained from primary sources. In Bangladesh, women are termed as passive migrants and an independent move by a woman is not a common phenomenon. The movement of poor women with their families and as household heads to cities has increased in recent years, opening up avenues for women to enter into the urban labour market and strengthen their family income. Female migrants find shelter in the highly congested slums and squatter areas of the city. Family heads, relatives and friends are a vital source of finding accommodation for migrants. Housing in the city is very different from that of rural areas. The city dwellings, in most cases, lack basic utilities and are overcrowded with very little household floor space. However, the close living in such dwellings with shared community water taps, toilets and little open space helps migrant females to become familiar with the urban utilities and affects their adaptation. The migrants tend to improve their structural types of dwellings, floor space and utilities as the length of stay increases due to better and more stable income. They also become more mobile with respect to housing re-location and the poor migrants are prepared to face any adversities as to their spatial location. Finally, with longer they stay in the city, poor migrant females learn to adopt to the urban way of life in a better manner.