Have women lost out in the development process?

Abstract

Investigates the impact of agrarian change on women in Bangladesh. In recent decades, especially since the introduction of seed‐fertilizer‐irrigation technology (Green Revolution), the agricultural and rural sectors of many LDCs, including Bangladesh, have undergone significant transformations and the distributional consequences remain largely a topic of acrimonious debate. Investigates wage differentials between rural male and female workers by employing Oaxaca’s wage equation. Explains women’s worsening position in terms of reduced access to, and control over, the means and rewards of productive activity. Feels that the bulk of empirical literature on distributional implications of agrarian change concentrates on share of grains between rich and poor farmers, the landowners and the landless, rural and urban consumers, but is limited in that very little attention is paid to the effects of technological change on male and female. Attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of the relevant issues underlying male and female employment experiences and concludes that, despite significant changes, women may have lost out in the development process.