VULNERABILITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF RURAL WOMEN DURING FLOOD: A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Natural disasters are the most frequent phenomena in Bangladesh. More or less every year, the people of Bangladesh face various kinds of disaster such as flood, draught, and cyclone. Considering the existing social structure of Bangladesh women are the most vulnerable to natural disasters and bear the challenges of the pre, post and during disaster survival. However, despite various difficulties they play the most crucial role to maintain their families during natural disaster. The present study intends to focus on the vulnerabilities and the capabilities of the rural women during the flood of 1998. For women and children the flood of 1998 caused tremendous sufferings due to their socio-economic conditions in the society. It was noticeable that although women were more vulnerable to disasters they did play the most crucial role for coping with disasters. Women faced severe problems to protect their families during flood. Among those the poor people suffer from lack of food, clothing and shelter. During flood the ultimate responsibility goes to women to protect their houses, children and other members of their families, livestock and other belongings.

In the flood refugees women faced many problems such as looting, shortage of fuel, insecurity, problem of parda maintenance, insufficient toilet facilities, fear of snakes, frogs, mosquitoes and other insects, transport problems, problems of water collection and many others. Despite various problems faced by women they have played important roles during different phases of flood. The present study was an attempt to find out the situation of this brave, silent and deprived section of the society whose contributions in rebuilding the post-flood economy and rehabilitation remains unnoticed. The chemistry of their struggle and their strategy, if understood, will help in designing future plans of post flood rehabilitation schemes.