Women’s empowerment through small-scale dairy farming in selected areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the role of small-scale dairy farming and related factors in promoting empowerment among women in the Salakandi (V1) and Binpara (V2) villages in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Data were collected from 50 rural women involved in dairy farming practices in each village through direct interviews using questionnaires. A combination of criteria was modeled using Multiple Linear Regression, revealing that, for all criteria, women from V1 exhibited greater empowerment than women from V2. Through small-scale dairy farming, rural women from V1 were able to increase their confidence and decision-making power with regard to their household and personal care and experienced increased self-esteem, expansion of their social circles, and ultimately enhanced empowerment through the breakdown of traditional socio-cultural norms. Thus, the expansion of small-scale dairy farming in other rural areas of Bangladesh is likely to contribute to the empowerment of more rural women.