Gendered Culture and Water Security: an exploratory study in some selected coastal areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Access to sufficient water is a human right and part of human survival, health, wellbeing, and livelihoods for consumption and domestic use. However, the gendered culture of water access, use and livelihoods has remained silent in the world of water management. The dimension to development perspectives also denotes that gendered behavior in ensuring water security is also an imperative aspect of achieving sustainable growth and development. But, this dimension is invisible worldwide and overlaid by patriarchal system and gender inequality. Although, different water usage behaviors generate risks among people of different ages in the line of the coastal region, the water situation is worse when compared to other regions, because of salinity, river erosion, unpredictable rainfall, and cyclonic situation. Thus, the abortive water management process could not minimize the water risk in the coastal area. The present research is an effort to bridge between science and policy in mitigating water risks of the vulnerable coastal people in line with the REACH framework. Water risks of the coastal people identified as one of the constraints towards achieving sustainable livelihood. The REACH Khulna observatory is especially looking for alternative dimensions in reducing water risks to build a resilient community. The prime objective of the study is to appraise the nature of water-related risks and to identify water-dependent livelihoods of coastal poor using gender lens. The second objective is to explore the differential impacts of water risks on their livelihood. Finally, the researcher intended to address gender-based alternative adaptation options taken by the coastal people to reduce water risks. In this perspective, the study explores how gender dimensions form a nexus between water collection challenges, spatial differences, and gender division of labor comparing data from water-secure and water insecure mouzas. Using a sample from 515 households in southern coastal, this study conducted in four mouzas of Polder 29 from Khulna district of Bangladesh. The researcher applied the mixed-methods approach to examine the water usage behavior of coastal people. To conduct this research work, the researcher employed the structured interview questionnaire as the quantitative tool to measure some variables related to gendered culture and water security in coastal Bangladesh. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for processing and analyzing the survey data. For the qualitative study, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Case Studies, In-depth interviews, Key informant interviews (KII) were conducted to identify the water risks and their impacts on the selected communities. The researcher presented the theoretical construction of methodology, the research tools and the methods of data collection, sampling, methods of data analysis and relevant others to gain an insight about the whole procedure of the study. The theoretical foundations of the present study stand on gender differences theory, liberal feminism, Gender and Development (GAD) approach, feminist theory, and gender-disaster resilient theory. These theories were reviewed to understand the significance and adaptability for the study. The findings showed that the quality of water deteriorated because of the high prevalence of saline water along with iron in southern polder of coastal region. Water collection is a gender-based role for women and for this reason and proximity to saline water, both women and girls suffered more compare to male counterparts. The present study also showed that women face various types of gender discrimination: women are often paid less than men, even for the same workload. They also worked longer hours than men. Women, who worked in the sector of agriculture and aquaculture, and as casual labors, earned only half the amount men earned. In contrast, those villages, which suffer from less water risks, most women, were able to self-sustain themselves without searching for a job in other areas. The findings additionally indicated that due to water insecurity many women and men had to work outside of their locality to sustain livelihoods. The present study explored the nature of water risks and vulnerabilities and to identify the genderspecific

intra-household water using behavior from the concurrent literature and empirical evidences. Findings of the study additionally indicated that both women and men involved in harvesting rainwater and used their own indigenous methods to have better access to water. The study supported that gender based adaptation options such as involvement of women in workplace, preserving water system, decision making regarding water infrastructure have been reducing gender disparity and enhancing resilience capacity to water risks of coastal Bangladesh. Finally, a ‘people-centered’ participatory inclusive system will be needed to reduce water risks. Sustainable water management will be ensured by strengthening institutional capacities for effective, efficient and inclusive water distribution at the community level as well as state level. Community-level water resources distribution process-considering women’s strategic interests and practical needs at the center will be more priority issues.