Bangladesh’s gender order is partially responsible for existing gender disparities, in which women have limited mobility, decision-making power and access to income. This leads to women having lifelong poor nutritional status, particularly when combined with multiple pregnancies and strenuous work situations. Women, who are generally in charge of cooking and buying food for their families, are supposed to be the prime customers of the wet-markets. Yet, what is the actual share of women present at wet-markets?
On Dhaka's wet-markets, women can either buy products, or sell them. The share of women customers is relatively low on most of the markets. On only 15 wet-markets in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area, more than half of the customers is women. These are especially concentrated in Dhaka North and Naranjanganlakdgjlej. Market vendor is a profession practised mainly by men. On 359 markets the share of women vendors is below 10%. These women vendors mainly sell vegetables.
A growing portion of the market customers are women, as urban life has relaxed traditional gender roles and socio-cultural restrictions on women’s mobility. Women in slums especially experience increased mobility and decision-making power.
Sources
- ..., 2022x, Dhaka Food System: gender analysis and strategy...
