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CHALLENGES FACED BY URBAN WORKING WOMEN IN BANGLADESH: A CASE

IN RAJSHAHI CITY

Conference Paper · November 2018

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 CHALLENGES FACED BY URBAN WORKING WOMEN IN BANGLADESH: A CASE IN
RAJSHAHI CITY
Monira Parvin Kona , Abdulla-All-Mijan , Tahmina Khatun3, Nazrul Islam4, Mohammad Didar Hossain5
1 2

Abstract-The number of working women is increasing day by day in Bangladesh but simultaneously
different challenges are faced by women in working place especially urban working women. The main
objective of this study is to understand the challenges faced by urban working women and to identify the
key socio-economic characteristics contributing of women’s status, security and safety and to study
women’s involvement in various activities or organizations for improving of family, community and
society. The study was confined to the urban working women in white collared jobs in the city of
Rajshahi, Bangladesh. A mixed method approach involving face to face interviews and questionnaire
techniques including both close-ended and open-ended questions were chosen for effective elicitation of
data from the respondents. The study was based on primary data collected from Rajshahi city and
different statistical tools were used to discuss the findings. The results of the study showed that different
age group of working women both married and unmarried have faced different kinds of challenges and
harassments in the workplace for being women. Most of the cases, they are facing personal, power and
psychological harassment and they are suffering from mental and physical stress, depression, lack of
confidence and lack of proper balance between employment and family care. On the other hand some
challenges are related to the working environment and security issues specially they emphasis on the child
care facility. Our study suggests some proper steps for the working women that may be ensured by the
concerned authority.

Keywords: Women, Workplace environment, Challenges, Harassment, Mixed method, Suggestions.

1
Lecturer in Economics, Department of Humanities, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), PH -
+8801754350935, e-mail – mkonaeco@gmail.com, Bangladesh.
2
Lecturer in English, Department of Humanities, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), PH -
+8801749937364, e-mail – mijan89.engju@gmail.com, Bangladesh.
3
Assistant Professor in Economics, Department of Humanities, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology
(RUET), PH - +8801744960545, e-mail – tahmina16swapna@gmail.com, Bangladesh.
4
Lecturer in Economics, Department of Humanities, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), PH -
+8801762772837, e-mail – nazrul@econdu.ac.bd, Bangladesh.
5
Assistant Professor in sociology, Department of Humanities, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology
(RUET), PH - +8801918703431, e-mail – didarsw@gmail.com , Bangladesh.
1 Introduction
Millions of women have come forward to establish women's rights, education, dignity and equal rights for
men and women empowerment. Today women are moving forward in the social sector. The country and
society are moving forward. Women dream of winning the space. Today's dream of winning the sea is in
the eyes of women. The women's eye today is fighting for the climbing of the mountains and continues to
fight for women's equality, dignity, rights and responsibilities.

In the decade of the women's movement, the movement has been fighting to overcome obstacles and it
has been successful there. Women can work in the profession of their choice on the basis of their skills
and abilities and this is not opportunity rather they are working with eligibility criteria. Women are being
subjected to various forms of torture and deprivation in the workplace. This is because the workplace is
not yet female friendly. Women must understand their responsibilities and challenges. In addition to
addressing the challenges, they must also understand the possibility of facing it and be brave enough to
deal with it. Currently, the number of women in the field of education is satisfactory but not enough
presence in profession. In the mainstream of the development of Bangladesh, millions of women are
playing visible and invisible role.

This self-esteem of women is the most delicate of the culture of Bangladesh. But opportunists use it as a
weapon in the workplace. Without recognition of better performance of women, their physical beauty is
greatly appreciated. It does not care about its eligibility; it goes away leading to women's competence in
covering. Many times, and behavior at workplace goes beyond the norms of culture. In this case, women
are not seen as a colleague rather they are only evaluated as a woman. To ensure healthy working
environment, persecution or abusive behavior (bullying) is playing the most negative role. Bullying is a
one-sided or collective way of repeating, humiliating, oppressing, or trivial in some other way beyond
work. It may be because of a grumpy or embarrassing posture. But this kind of behavior is highly
unwarranted and insulting to the victims of bullying. As a result, they suffered severe mental stress.

Time has changed. Now women are out of the house and illuminate themselves with education. The
people who are touching this light have taken themselves to the many places of honor in the society. And
those who could not illuminate themselves in the light of education remained in the dark. In today's
modern society, women are neglected. Women are being deprived in different ways. They are identified
as a burden on first birth. Following them, family managers often consider spending labor and money
unnecessary for women. If a girl can move towards the light of education without ignoring all these
obstacles, then many more women will be motivated to inspire themselves towards the welfare of society.
This story of obstacles for women to be educated so far. In addition to this, when a woman becomes
involved in the work, she has to face many conversations too often. People backbites women rather
speaking frankly. Sometimes it is heard that women are better for jobs schools and colleges, no other
fields are safe. Approximately half of the Bangladeshi population is women. If women cannot make
permanent contributions at work, then the development process will fail. The national economy will be
damaged. Only after the recovery of healthy environment in the workplace will lead to the improvement
of the organization's successive growth. Due to the lack of suitable environment both mentally and
physically at workplace, now it is time to think about the negative impact on the work quality and
productivity. It is not only for the welfare of the workers but also necessary for the organization’s gradual
growth. Changing of the situation is possible only when we can make our thinking more refined and
clean.

However, the gender equality and the empowerment of women are now recognized in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh bureau of statistics, the population of woman in Bangladesh has increased to
71933000 (in 2011) from 32400138 (in 1971), a dramatic increase in 40 years for population. Also in
2011 the number of female aged 15 and above in education was 72.65% which rises to 93.54% in 2016.
Adult literacy rate for female (Higher education) has been increased by 69.9% (in 2016) from 46.74% (in
2011). From the 106.1 million persons aged 15 years or older, 59.5 million of them (56.1 percent) were in
employment or engaged in economic activity; 17.8 million of them (33.2 percent) were females and 79.4
percent were males. Again from 16.52 million employed populations in urban areas, 12.09 million were
males and 4.43 million were females. Rajshahi (nicknamed Silk City) is a metropolitan city in Bangladesh
and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of North Bengal. The administrative district was
established in 1772 and the municipal corporation in 1876. It was made a city corporation in 1991. It is
the administrative sea tof both Rajshahi Division and Rajshahi District. It is located on the north bank of
the Padma River, near the Bangladesh-India border, the city has a population of over 763,952 residents.
The city is surrounded by satellite town of Nowhata and Katakhali, which together build an urban
agglomeration of about 1 million populations. The number of male population in Rajshahi district is
1,309,890 and female population is 1,285,307. Literacy rate in this district (7 years and above) is 53%
from which male is 55.8% and female is 50.1%. Again school attendance (5 to 24 years) rate is 58.9%
where male is 61.8% and female is 55.9%. According to the census of 2011, total number of employed
person in Rajshahi district is 770, 627 among which in agriculture 479,602; in industry 49,170 and in
service 241,855. In every sector, the number of males is greater than females. (source: Bangladesh Bureau
of Statistics (web).)
While a majority of the women still face discrimination and gender bias, in the last few decades, the
number of women successful in politics, technology and business etc. is definitely on the rise. Society has
started seeing women in a different perspective. They work as lawyers, nurses, doctors, social workers,
teachers, secretaries, managers and officers etc. There is no profession today where women are not
employed. However, it is true that working women have to face problems by virtue of their sex. For
centuries women have been subjected to exploitation and torture, physically, sexually and mentally. There
are innumerable challenge and problems faced by them both at home and workplace. Working women are
essential for the development of the society, so empowerment of women is important to the process of
upliftment of economic, social, political status of women. From the aspect of making the lower ground of
women’s feet little solid in their professional life, the researchers is motivated to conduct this research.

1.1 Objectives of the study

The study attempts to address the following key research objectives

1. to identify the challenges faced by urban working women in the workplace.

2. to identify the key socio-economic pointers contributing to women’s status, safety and security.
3. to study women’s involvement in various activities/ organizations for upliftment of family, community
and society that can lead to their overall development.
4. to find out possible solutions that could help them to overcome the problems that they face in the
workplace.
1.2 Rationale and Significance of the Study:
Educated urban women are presumed to be more aware of the opportunities and challenges of the
workplace or educated urban women can better understand their roles and limitations in the workplaces
and are perceived to be bold enough to develop their own personalities, with or without encouragement
from their families. An assessment of the problems and issues plaguing urban working women is
therefore a necessity for better understanding of workplace dynamics related to women. During earlier
days there were some man-made boundaries for women but now women play vital roles in different
sectors. Women today are breaking that boundary and are playing the dual role of balancing domestic life
as well as professional life, giving a boost to their societal status in the process. The major problems for
working women arise out of the dual responsibilities of the working woman - domestic work as well as
office work. Though more and more women are coming out in search of paid employment and their
families also need their income, the attitude towards women and their role in the family has not
undergone much change. Women continue to be perceived as weak, inferior, and second-class citizens.
Even today, looking after the family and children is generally perceived to be the primary responsibility
of the man.

2 Literature Review
Tasnim, M., & et.al. (2017), Safa, M. N. & Akter, T. (2015), Sikdar, M. H., Sarkar, S. K. & Sadeka, S.
(2014), Zohurul and A., Hasan, M. (2013) they have worked on challenges faced by working women in
Bangladesh. They worked on journalism, SME, garments and other sectors in Bangladesh. Among them
Safa, M. N. & Akter, T. (2015) used secondary data Sikdar, M. H., Sarkar, S. K. & Sadeka, S. (2014) and
Tasnim, M., & et.al. (2017) used primary data for their study. Only Zohurul and A., Hasan, M. (2013)
used both primary and secondary data for their study.

Shettar, M. R. (2015), Kousalya, N., (2015), Bavya, M.P., & Raghunandan M.V (2018), Gowda, K., &
Rao, P. (2018) and Abid, A., & et.al. (2013) they have worked on working women of India to find out the
challenges and issues in their work place. They worked on Government organizations, IT sectors, BOP
sectors. Informal sectors and Banking sectors. Kousalya, N., (2015), Bavya, M.P., & Raghunandan M.V
(2018), Gowda, K., & Rao, P. (2018) and Abid, A., & et.al. (2013) they used primary data for their study
and only Shettar, M. R. (2015) used secondary data.

Salam, A. (2016) worked on UAE, Chilipunde R., & et.al. (2013) worked on Malawiand Rahman, S.,
Abd, & et.al. (2017) worked on Malysia. Among them Salam, A. (2016) used online survey
data,Chilipunde R., & et.al. (2013) worked on construction industry and using primary data. Rahman, S.,
Abd, & et.al. (2017) worked on financial assistance programmers using primary data.

Tasnim, M., & et.al. (2017), Safa, M. N. & Akter, T. (2015), Sikdar, M. H., Sarkar, S. K. & Sadeka, S.
(2014), Zohurul and A., Hasan, M. (2013) have found that in Bangladesh female journalists face gender
discrimination in their media house. Garments workers in Bangladesh are working without sitting,
getting less wage, getting very rough and bad behavior especially aged workers by their supervisor and
sometimes beaten up by line chief or supervisor. Women Entrepreneurs of SMEs in Rajshahi have capital
deficiencies. Female employees from different organizations feel depressed, experienced hypertension,
faced obesity problems and experienced frequent headache due to excessive workload and long working
hours.
Shettar, M. R. (2015), Kousalya, N., (2015), Bavya, M.P., & Raghunandan M.V (2018),Gowda, K., &
Rao, P. (2018) and Abid, A., & et.al. (2013) have mentioned that women employees in IT industry in
Chennai city, India have physical, psychological problems arising in the working hours and health
problems like sleep difficulties and backwashes which are the major difficulties faced by them. Working
women in BPO sector in Mysore city faced different problems like hesitation, salary, insecurity, stress,
gender discrimination and family support besides gender discrimination in the case of promotions;
wages/salary and work environment problems are also faced by working women in Bengaluru, India.
Working women in the Banking sector of Bahawalpur are not satisfied with the promotion system and are
agreed that married women are facing more problems than unmarried women.

Salam, A. (2016) has showed that working womenin Al Ain city UAE faced stereotypical challenges and
child care problems. Chilipunde R.,& et. al. (2013) found that In the construction industry of Malawi
women faced different challenges such as insufficient maternity leave, sexual harassment and problems in
balancing work and family. Rahman, S., Abd, & et.al. (2017) have showed that financial assistance
programmers in Kualalumpur, Malaysia have faced challenges such as financial constraints, time
constraints, lack of knowledge and skills, social stigma and lack of childcare facilities.

3 Data and Methodology

The study is exploratory in nature and aims to identify the challenges faced by urban women in different
professional sectors like public sector enterprises, banks, schools and colleges, hospitals, commercial
organizations etc. The present study is mainly based on primary data with the support of both quantitative
data and qualitative data. Rajshahi City Corporation is selected as study area for this research work. Data
are collected randomly from 100 working women in Rajshahi City Corporation. The study surveyed only
urban women employees in white collared jobs who have been in their jobs for at least six months.
Purposive sampling is followed for this study. Actually, a purposive sample is a non-probability sample
that is selected based on characteristics of a population and the objective of the study. Purposive sampling
is also known as judgmental, selective, or subjective sampling. Purposive sampling is widely used in
qualitative research for the identification and selection of information-rich cases related to the
phenomenon of interest. Although there are several different purposeful sampling strategies, criterion
sampling appears to be used most commonly in implementation research. For analyzing the challenges
faced by urban women in different professional, sample is selected in such a way that it covers all
necessary data required for analysis. The survey is conducted during July to August, 2018.

4 Results and Discussion

To show the challenges of the urban working women in Bangladesh, we have collected both the
qualitative data and quantitative data. Primary data is collected with the support of questionnaire from the
white collared workers of Rajshahi City. In questionnaire, different questions were asked from the
respondent and the answers were recorded by the interviewer. We used this method because it is the most
suitable method to get information as by visiting respondents. In this case we have done descriptive
analysis to see the relationship between the variables and it is the most suitable process to explain the
analysis.
4.1 Descriptive Analysis

To know the relationship between various variable and the challenges of the urban working environment,
we have found the frequency, percentage and cross tabulation. Our descriptive analysis provides us the
following results

4.1.1 Age Group Distribution

Age Group Percentage

21-30 21%
31-40 62%
41-50 11%
51-60 6%
Table 1: Age group distribution (source: Field survey, 2018)

Here, in our total sample, minimum age of our respondents is 24 years and maximum is 59 years old. We
have categorized them into 4 age group taking 10 years interval. We have found 21% respondents in first
group 21-30. The highest number of the respondents have found in second group 31-40 that is 62%. The
third and forth group is 41-50 and 51-60 and each groups have 11% and 6% respondents.

4.1.2 Challenges faced by urban working women

Percentage
11%

Yes
89% No

Here, we see that 89% of urban working women is facing huge challenges in their workplace where only
11% respondents are relax from their challenges. Because of this reason the satisfaction from their job is
not significantly high.

Figure 1: The challenges faced by urban working women (source: Field survey, 2018)

4.1.3 Occupation and challenges faced by urban working women

We have collected data from various organization and we have categorized them into four sectors that are
teacher, banker, human resource and doctor.
 Occupations Percentage of challenges faced with
occupation

Percentage of challenges
Teacher 95% 100%
86% 82%
34% Doctor
42%

faced
14% 18%
5% 0%
Human
21% 3% Resources Teacher Doctor Human Banker
Resources
Banker
Occupations
Figure 2: the percentage of occupation (source: Field survey, 2018)
Figure 3: the percentage of challenges faced with occupation (source: Field survey, 2018)

Figure 2 has been shown that 42% teachers both from universities and colleges in Rajshahi city faced
challenges in their workplace. Besides, those 34% female bankers, 21% human resource officers and 3%
doctors have also claimed challenge issues.
The figure 3 illustrates that 95% female teachers face huge challenges in their work place. This rate is
quite high among doctors and the rate is 100%. 86% respondents who are in human resources are facing
challenges in their workplace. The rate of facing challenges is 82% among the bankers.

4.1.4 Marital status and challenges of working women

Marital Status Challanges faced with marital status

91%
11%
Percentage of

72%
Respondent

28%
9%
89%
Yes No

Married Unmarried Married Unmarried

Figure 4: The percentage of marital status (source: Field survey, 2018)

Figure 5: The percentage of challenges with marital status (source: Field survey, 2018)

Figure 4, the entire pie represents 100 percent of a whole, while the pie slices represent portions of the
whole where the figure 5 shows the Marital Status of working women. According to the chart 89%
women married among 91% married women face challenges in their workplace and 11% women are
unmarried among 72% respondents face challenges.

4.1.5 Types of difficulties faced by urban working women

 Types of Difficulties faced by women
Percentange of Difficulties
44%
faced by women

27% 27%

11% 10% 8%

73%
Time Absence of Emerging Physical No
management emotional family stress difficulties
Yes No support problems

Figure 6: The percentage of the difficulties faced by the women (source: Field survey, 2018)
Figure 7: Types of difficulties faced by women (source: Field survey, 2018)

Figure 6 represents the percentage of difficulties faced by working women in their workplace. One pie
slice represents ‘Yes’ that means 73% working women faced difficulties on the contrary other slice
represents ‘No’ that means 27% working women did not face any difficulties.
Figure 7, the bar diagram shows the percentage of types of difficulties. Five types of difficulties women
faced at their working place among them 44% women faced time management difficulties, 11% women
faced absence of emotional support difficulties, 10% women faced newly emerging family problem
difficulties, 8% women faced physical stress and amazingly 27% women faced no difficulties. This makes
sense that time management difficulties percentage rate is high.

4.1.6 The percentage of the family member who support the most to mitigate the challenges

Percentange The most supporting member

3% 52%
38%

9% percentange
97% 1%

Husband Others Paid Friends

family maid
Yes No member

Figure 8: The percentage of the support provided by family member (source: Field survey, 2018)
Figure 9: The most supporting member (source: Field survey, 2018)

Figure 8 represents the percentage of family support. One pie slice represents ‘Yes’ that means 97%
working women get family support on the contrary other slice represents ‘No’ that means 3% working
women did not get family support.
This column diagram, figure 9, shows the percentage of most supporting member. There are four types of
helping hand among them 52% women are helped by their husband, 38% women are helped by others
family member (father, mother, brother, sister), 1% women are helped by friends, 9% women are helped
by paid maid. This makes sense that working women are greatly benefited by their husband.

4.1.7 Women's position due to financial independence in our society

Women's position due to financial independence

in our society

40%
35%
25%

0%

Making family Improving living Increasing Others

decision standard social status

Figure 10: The percentage of women position for financial independent (source: Field survey, 2018)

In our study, we have found that 100% working women are agreed that financial independence gives
them more respect in the society. 40% Women feel that financial independence helps them making
decision in family matter, 35% in improving living standard and 25 % in increasing social status.

4.1.8 Service duration and challenges faced by urban working women

Challenges faced by women with
Duration of service duration of service
51%
100%
challenges

90% 91% 86%

35%
faced

50% 50%
Yes
10% 9% 14% No
0%
7%
3% 4% 1 to 7 8 to 14 15 to 21 22 to 28 29 to 35
Duration of service
1 to 7 8 to 14 15 to 21 22 to 28 29 to 35
Figure 11: The percentage of work experience in year
(source: Field survey, 2018)
Figure 12: The relation between the challenges and experience of the service (source: Field survey, 2018)

The figure 11 and 12 illustrates that 51% working women who have 1 to 7 years job experience among
them 90% faced challenges and 10% did not face any challenges. 35% working women who have 8 to 14
years job experience among them 91% faced challenges and 9% did not face any challenges. 7% working
women who have 15 to 21 years job experience among them 86% faced challenges and 14% did not face
any challenges, 3% working women who have 22 to 28 years job experience among them 100% faced
challenges 4% working women who have 29 to 35 years job experience among them 50% faced
challenges and 50% did not face any challenges.

4.1.9 Different types of harassment faced by working women

Faced by harassment Types of harasment faced by women

Personal 25%
verbal 20%
Power 15%
25%
Yes Gender 14%
phsychological 11%
No
Third party 8%
Age-based 3%
75%
Others 5%

Figure 13: The percentage of women faced harassment in their workplace (source: Field survey, 2018)
Figure 14: Types of harassment faced by women (source: Field survey, 2018)

The study has found that 75% working women faced different kinds of harassment in their workplace but
25% women did not face harassment among them 24.7% working women faced personal harassment,
20.4% women faced verbal harassment, 13.6% women faced gender harassment, 14.8% women faced
power harassment, 11.1% women faced psychological harassment, 8% women faced third party
harassment, 2.5% faced age-based harassment and 4.8% women faced others harassment.

4.1.10 Urban working women faced harassment by whom

From our study, we have found that 72% women are facing harassment because they are women where
28% are facing harassment but it is not because of being women.

Responsible parties for creating harassment

44%
37%

16%

2% 1%

Peer/Colleague Superior/Supervisor Third Party Subordinate Others

Figure 15: The percentage of responsible parties for creating harassment (source: Field survey, 2018)

The figure 15 shows that the most of the working women are harassed by their peer/colleague and its rate
is 44% where 37% women are harassed by superior/supervisor. Women are also harassed by third party in
doing their own duty and it is 16%. 2% working women are harassed by subordinate and 1% working
women are harassed by others.

4.1.11 The effect of harassment on women

Here, our study show that 93% working women are badly affected by the harassment and 7% women can
cope with the situation.

50% The effect of harassment

29%

14%
5%
2%

Mentaland physical Depression Lack of confidence Lack of proper balance Others

stress between office &family

Figure 16: The percentage of the effect of harassment (source: Field survey, 2018)

Half of the respondents are suffering from mental and physical stress. 29% women are in depression
because of the harassment in workplace. 14% working women are losing their confidence day by day. 5%
women are unable to keep proper balance between office and family and 2% women are suffering from
other problems.

4.1.12 Engagement of women with different Activities for upliftment of family, community or
society

Here in our study we have found that 33% women involve in different activities that can uplift their
family, community or society but 67% women are not involved.

Types of activities Percentage

Participating cultural program 22%
Helping hungry or homeless 17%
Helping disabled persons 17%
Donating old clothes 12%
Helping children and schools 10%
Organizing community blood drive 9%
Awareness raising program 5%
Helping senior citizens 5%
Helping animals and the environment 3%
Table 2: Type of activities of women for the upliftment of the society (source: Field survey, 2018)
Table 2 shows that women are involving different activities that can uplift their family, community or
society. Among the participant 22% women Participating cultural program, 17% women helping the
hungry and homeless, 17% helping disable persons, 12% women donating their old clothes, 10% helping
children and schools, 9% organizing a community blood drive, 5% women are involving awareness
raising programme, 5% women helping senior citizens and 3% women are helping animals and the
environment. Other 67% cannot engage with other activities. Due to lack of time 65% women are not
involved in any social activities, 24% women do not get family support, 9% women have no interest, 1%
women have lack of official cooperation and 1% women have other reasons for not involving in any
social activities.

4.1.13 Suitable workplace and Suggested facilities to reduce challenges

This study has showed that 66% working women think their working environment is suitable for them
and 34% working women think the opposite.

Suggested facilities to be enhanced

45%
32%
12% 12%

Washroom Canteen facilities Deviant Others

facilities workplace
behaviour
Suggested facilities

Figure 17: The percentage of the recommended facilities for women (source: Field survey, 2018)

45% working women expect the improvement of washroom facilities, 32% canteen facilities, 12% expect
deviant workplace behavior and 12% women expect others improvement from their authority.

4.1.14 Importance of child care facilities in the workplace

Child care facility is essential for improving productivity and offering emotional security but child care
facilities exist only in 16% working place but overwhelmingly child care facilities are not exist in 84%
women’s working place. 98% working women think that child care facilities is very important in working
place and 2% women think it’s less important.

Reasons of why childcare is important

33%
26%
21%
11% 9%

Improve Offer emotional Convenient Creat good morale Help retain &
productivity security attract employee
Figure 18: The different reasons why child care facility is important (source: Field survey, 2018)

According to our study, 33% women think, availability of child care facilities improves their working
productivity, 26% think it offers their emotional security, 21% think it’s convenient for their work and
11% women think it creates good morale.

4.1.15 Security provided by authority and expectations

The study found that 77% respondent thinks their authority provides enough security for them but 23%
respondents are not satisfied. In the case of family emergency 30% respondents get transport facilities,
27% get medical facilities, 22% get financial support, 19% get break and 1% get others security from
their authority.

Expected securities from authority

Transport 39%

Financial 17%

Medical 17%

Congenial office environment 14%

Safe accomodation 14%

Figure 19: The percentage of the recommended securities (source: Field survey, 2018)

39% respondents want transport facilities, 17% respondents want financial support and medical facilities
simultaneously and 14% respondents want congenial working environment and safe accommodation
respectively.

4.1.16 Suggestions for the overall improvement of the workplace for the women

Suggesstions for the improvement of the working environment

Maternity allowance and child care 37%

Providing more security 24%

Common room facilities 21%
Transport facilities 7%
Ensuring family supports 4%
Others 8%
Figure 20: Different suggestions for the improvement of workplace (source: Field survey, 2018)

All respondents provide some valuable suggestions. 37% respondents think maternity allowance and child
care facilities are very important, 24% respondents suggests more security i.e. CC camera, security guard
should be ensured by the authority, 21% respondents suggests common room facilities including prayer
room, wash room and canteen, 7% suggests transport facilities, 4% respondents suggests family support
and 8% respondents suggests other facilities which includes residential facility, cooperation from
colleagues, increasing refreshing time, proper evaluation of women’s performance and increasing women
participation in work place.

5 Conclusion

Working women’s are contributing a lot in the economic growth of Bangladesh and a large part of
economic activities are undertaken by women and overwhelmingly this working women faced a lot of
challenges at their working place. This research is conducted to explore the challenges faced by working
women in Rajshahi city. In this study, we found that 89% women are facing challenges among them 75%
women have faced harassment. Approximately 25% women have to face personal and 15% have to face
power harassment. According to our respondents, 72% women are facing challenges because they are
women. Women are basically harassed by peer/colleague and its rate is 44%. They are affected by mental
stress mainly. They have pointed out many facilities and securities to improve their workplace among
them 98% respondent emphasis on child care facilities.

Due to reluctant of respondents, enough time and light budget we faced great obstacles to conduct the
result. Further study is required and recommended to explore the other findings regarding this topic. The
data from the questionnaire, interview of the respondents and our practical observation reflect that
challenges that faced by working women have a severe phenomenon in Rajshahi city. The questionnaire,
interview and our observation have contributed to outline the following findings:

 In Rajshahi city, only New Government Degree College and Islamic Bank have Child care facilities
where 98% respondents think it’s very important for their improvement of productivity, emotional
security and good morale. So, authority obviously has to pay attention in this regard.
 24.7% women faced personal harassment and 20.4% women faced verbal harassment by their
colleague or superior or subordinate. So, mentality of male colleagues towards female colleagues has
to change.
 In Rajshahi 45% women faces washroom facilities. So, Separate washroom must be ensured by the
authority.
 Authority can keep consideration of providing more security such as close circuit camera, security
guard and residential facility with prayer room and canteen.

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