The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh

Water management in Bangladesh is guided by an intended integrated and inclusive approach enshrined in government legislation since the late 1990s. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected in the coastal zone, we assess the implementation of these policies with regard to women water uses...

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Autores principales: Buisson, Marie-Charlotte, Curnow, Jayne, Naz, F.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89162
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author Buisson, Marie-Charlotte
Curnow, Jayne
Naz, F.
author_browse Buisson, Marie-Charlotte
Curnow, Jayne
Naz, F.
author_facet Buisson, Marie-Charlotte
Curnow, Jayne
Naz, F.
author_sort Buisson, Marie-Charlotte
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Water management in Bangladesh is guided by an intended integrated and inclusive approach enshrined in government legislation since the late 1990s. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected in the coastal zone, we assess the implementation of these policies with regard to women water uses. First, the analysis of reproductive and productive roles of women establishes that men have a significant role to play in domestic supply, and women use water extensively for small-scale agriculture and aquaculture, the scope of which has been underestimated. However, when considering women's inclusion in community water management and more specifically in Water Management Organizations (WMOs), we demonstrate that women face diverse forms of social barriers resulting in systematic exclusion and self-exclusion from these institutions. Water Management Organizations focus on large-scale productive use of water and are rarely addressing the small scale productive and reproductive uses of water. This creates a gap between water users and water managers, which is exacerbated by class and power relations. The creation of community based water management organisations in the coastal zone of south west Bangladesh has so far not challenged women marginalisation especially in terms of activity limitations and participation restrictions. We conclude by recommending a shift from the inclusiveness policy, which is unable to achieve its goals to a more targeted approach that is relevant in the socio-cultural context of rural Bangladesh.
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spelling CGSpace891622025-03-11T09:50:20Z The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh Buisson, Marie-Charlotte Curnow, Jayne Naz, F. water management water users water supply water productivity gender women natural resources management community involvement community management coastal area aquaculture small scale systems rural areas agriculture vegetables livestock financing Water management in Bangladesh is guided by an intended integrated and inclusive approach enshrined in government legislation since the late 1990s. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected in the coastal zone, we assess the implementation of these policies with regard to women water uses. First, the analysis of reproductive and productive roles of women establishes that men have a significant role to play in domestic supply, and women use water extensively for small-scale agriculture and aquaculture, the scope of which has been underestimated. However, when considering women's inclusion in community water management and more specifically in Water Management Organizations (WMOs), we demonstrate that women face diverse forms of social barriers resulting in systematic exclusion and self-exclusion from these institutions. Water Management Organizations focus on large-scale productive use of water and are rarely addressing the small scale productive and reproductive uses of water. This creates a gap between water users and water managers, which is exacerbated by class and power relations. The creation of community based water management organisations in the coastal zone of south west Bangladesh has so far not challenged women marginalisation especially in terms of activity limitations and participation restrictions. We conclude by recommending a shift from the inclusiveness policy, which is unable to achieve its goals to a more targeted approach that is relevant in the socio-cultural context of rural Bangladesh. 2017 2017-11-01T04:11:01Z 2017-11-01T04:11:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89162 en Open Access Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Curnow, J.; Naz, F. 2017. The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh. SAWAS (South Asian Water Studies), 5(4):28-41.
spellingShingle water management
water users
water supply
water productivity
gender
women
natural resources management
community involvement
community management
coastal area
aquaculture
small scale systems
rural areas
agriculture
vegetables
livestock
financing
Buisson, Marie-Charlotte
Curnow, Jayne
Naz, F.
The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh
title The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh
title_full The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh
title_fullStr The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh
title_short The gender gap between water management and water users: evidence from Southwest Bangladesh
title_sort gender gap between water management and water users evidence from southwest bangladesh
topic water management
water users
water supply
water productivity
gender
women
natural resources management
community involvement
community management
coastal area
aquaculture
small scale systems
rural areas
agriculture
vegetables
livestock
financing
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89162
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