Determinants of women's time allocation in rural Bangladesh
Khandker, S.R.
Economic Development and Cultural Change 37(1): 111-126
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-0079 DOI: 10.2307/1154182Document Number: 319562
The paper investigates whether women's time allocation in rural Bangladesh is governed by economic constraints, or is determined by local customs, such as patriarchy. The results indicate that the time-use pattern is partially influenced by individual and household level economic constraints. An increase in women's market wages and opportunities increases participation in labour market production. The assets and landholdings of the spouse can increase home productivity, and reduce market-orientated production. Greater education of today's female children will mean more education for the mother which, in turn, will mean fewer children, and greater participation of mothers in the labour market. Government policies aimed at involving rural women in development activities should therefore be concerned with women's wages, modernization programmes to increase opportunities, and as a longer term objective, an improved female schooling system.