Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Bangladesh
Gender equality is not merely socially desirable: it is critical to the reduction of poverty and hunger, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal 3 and the accomplishment of WFP’s Strategic Objectives. Women in Bangladesh remain particularly vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.
Low status within the household and cultural practices associated with childbirth and intra-family food distribution lead to gender discrimination in the allocation of food. An estimated 30% of adult Bangladeshi mothers are chronically undernourished, and at least 40% of women suffer from anaemia during pregnancy.
Female-headed households are over represented among the ultra poor, and are more vulnerable to the social impacts of disasters.