Influence of Social Norms and Values of Rural Bangladesh on Women’s Participation in the Union Parishad

Abstract

This article is an attempt to analyse the participation of women members of the Union Parishad (UP), the lowest tier of the three-tier rural local government system of Bangladesh, and the influence of prevalent social norms and values in rural Bangladesh on their participation in decision-making and policy implementation. More specifically, it highlights how such norms, the practice of purdah and the organisational culture of the UP impinge on women’s participation in UP meetings, rural Salish1, and implementation of development activities at the community level. The data shows that although some women members do participate in decision-making, policy formulation and policy implementation, patriarchal norms and values still extensively constrain them. The UP is mostly male dominated and non-cooperation of men persists as one of the barriers to enhancing women’s participation in the UP.