Between transformation and preservation of gender norms: A qualitative study of family relationships and women's empowerment in Bangladesh

Lanza Turner, Isabella (2022) Between transformation and preservation of gender norms: A qualitative study of family relationships and women's empowerment in Bangladesh. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

This thesis aimed at identifying women’s most important relationships and understanding how these facilitate or hinder their empowerment. When studying women’s empowerment, researchers often focus on women isolated from their families and communities. However, especially in collectivistic societies, women’s relationships matter. Seven semi-structured indepth interviews were conducted with women living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I did a thematic narrative analysis combining inductive and deductive approaches. I found that women’s most important relationships are their fathers, mothers, and sisters. During childhood, their parents supported women’s education. However, as women got older, parents pressured them tomarry and have children. This way, parents preserve gender norms and obligations by pressuring their daughters to adhere to them. The older sisters played an important role in supporting the women. They were a transformative relationship in the women’s lives, as they tried to change their parents' views so that the women could break free from gender norms and obligations. Future interventions should target women’s communities and families. Keywords: women empowerment, gender inequality, family, relationships, gender norms, Bangladesh

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Hansen, N. and Huis, M.A.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2022 12:41
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2022 12:41
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/805

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