EFFECT OF EMPLOYMENT ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN URBAN BANGLADESH: AN INVESTIGATION ON KHULNA CITY

The study measured empowerment and revealed effect of women employment on their empowerment in the Khulna city of Bangladesh. Based on snowball sampling technique 100 respondents were interviewed, equally between employed and unemployed groups. An empowerment index was constructed based on three dimensions as decision making in family, freedom of movement and control over resources. Multiple linear regression model was used to estimate the effect of employment. Empowerment index showed that employed women were more empowered in all dimensions than unemployed women. Regression result found that employed group has 0.26 unit more freedom of movement, 0.17 unit more control over resources and possess 0.16 unit more in overall empowerment than unemployed group. Household head’s age and education were significant in three dimensions. Higher aged people enjoy more freedom to move and in overall empowerment. While comparing with day labors, it was found that almost no other categories of service make significant difference in empowerment dimensions. Among the employed women, those who contribute more than half of family income possess 0.21 unit more controlling power over resources than those who contribute nothing. This contribution is not making any difference in other dimensions because other factors influence family level decision making