Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Men’s Perceptions of Women’s Participation in Development Initiatives in Rural Bangladesh

Karim, Rabiul ; Lindberg, Lene ; Wamala, Sarah and Emmelin, Maria LU (2018) In American Journal of Men's Health 12(2). p.398-410
Abstract

Without taking masculine issues into account, women’s participation in development initiatives does not always guarantee their empowerment, health, and welfare in a male-dominated society. This study aimed to explore men’s perceptions of women’s participation in development (WPD) in rural Bangladesh. In adopting a qualitative approach, the study examined 48 purposively selected married and unmarried men aged 20–76 years in three northwest villages. Data collection was accomplished through four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 43 men clustered into four groups and through individual interviews with five other men. A qualitative content analysis of the data revealed an overall theme of “feeling challenged by fears and hopes,”... (More)

Without taking masculine issues into account, women’s participation in development initiatives does not always guarantee their empowerment, health, and welfare in a male-dominated society. This study aimed to explore men’s perceptions of women’s participation in development (WPD) in rural Bangladesh. In adopting a qualitative approach, the study examined 48 purposively selected married and unmarried men aged 20–76 years in three northwest villages. Data collection was accomplished through four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 43 men clustered into four groups and through individual interviews with five other men. A qualitative content analysis of the data revealed an overall theme of “feeling challenged by fears and hopes,” indicating variations in men’s views on women’s participation in development initiatives as represented by three main categories: (a) fearing the loss of male authority, (b) recognizing women’s roles in enhancing family welfare, and (c) valuing women’s independence. In the context of dominant patriarchal traditions in Bangladesh, these findings provide new insight into dynamics and variations of men’s views, suggesting a need to better engage men during different stages of women-focused development initiatives.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
gender, men’s perceptions, rural Bangladesh, women in development
in
American Journal of Men's Health
volume
12
issue
2
pages
13 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:29025358
  • scopus:85042332640
ISSN
1557-9883
DOI
10.1177/1557988317735394
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
16243716-7752-48e9-b749-4fe3d3216366
date added to LUP
2018-03-17 19:37:06
date last changed
2024-04-29 05:45:35
@article{16243716-7752-48e9-b749-4fe3d3216366,
  abstract     = {{<p>Without taking masculine issues into account, women’s participation in development initiatives does not always guarantee their empowerment, health, and welfare in a male-dominated society. This study aimed to explore men’s perceptions of women’s participation in development (WPD) in rural Bangladesh. In adopting a qualitative approach, the study examined 48 purposively selected married and unmarried men aged 20–76 years in three northwest villages. Data collection was accomplished through four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 43 men clustered into four groups and through individual interviews with five other men. A qualitative content analysis of the data revealed an overall theme of “feeling challenged by fears and hopes,” indicating variations in men’s views on women’s participation in development initiatives as represented by three main categories: (a) fearing the loss of male authority, (b) recognizing women’s roles in enhancing family welfare, and (c) valuing women’s independence. In the context of dominant patriarchal traditions in Bangladesh, these findings provide new insight into dynamics and variations of men’s views, suggesting a need to better engage men during different stages of women-focused development initiatives.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karim, Rabiul and Lindberg, Lene and Wamala, Sarah and Emmelin, Maria}},
  issn         = {{1557-9883}},
  keywords     = {{gender; men’s perceptions; rural Bangladesh; women in development}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{398--410}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Men's Health}},
  title        = {{Men’s Perceptions of Women’s Participation in Development Initiatives in Rural Bangladesh}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1557988317735394}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1557988317735394}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}