International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 ResearchGate Impact Factor (2018): 0.28 | SJIF (2018): 7.426 Volume 8 Issue 8, August 2019 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY The outlook of Women Empowerment: A Comparative Study on Rural and Urban Women in Rajshahi District of Bangladesh Sharmin Akter 1 , Arif Ibne Asad 2 1 B.S.S & M.S.S (Dept. of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Research fellow, Institute of Educational Research, University of Rajshahi). 2 B.S.S & M.S.S (Dept. of Economics, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Lecturer, Department of Economics, Varendra University, Rajshahi). Abstract: The demographic distribution of Bangladesh implies around an equal male-female ratio. Bangladesh has been graduated from least developed to a developing country since 2018. It has been observed that the rural women are less benefited than the urban women if any development occurs in Bangladesh. The main objective of our study is to find out the comparative women empowerment scenario in urban and rural regions of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. To analyze the women empowerment status, we use a unique well-structured questionnaire to collect information from the urban and rural women who are between (40-80) age group. We use both descriptive and econometric statistics. The multi-variable linear regression models have been used to describe social and economic endorsement of 200 women, one half is from rural area and other half was from urban area and the data set has been analyzed through two multiple regression models, the decision making on social perspective and purchasing power on economic factors. We get significant results for very few variables, such as decision making and governance, pocket money and purchasing capacity have both positive and significant relations in both rural and urban areas. On the other hand, freedom of movement, resource ownership and income contributions are only significant for villages. In our descriptive analysis, there is 5 % more women in village can take household expenditure decision than the women living in cities. We get 30 % women in rural areas having the freedom of movement facility whatever only 18 % urban women enjoy it. Finally, the paper suggests some policies which can attain the women empowerment for our national development. Keywords: Socio-Economic Condition, Women Empowerment, Decision Making, Income Contribution 1. Introduction The demographic distribution of Bangladesh implies around an equal male-female ratio. According to the World data Atlas in 2015, the males for 100 females were 101.86. Undoubtedly, women folk is an important part for the socio- economic development of Bangladesh. Although there is significant changes comparing to the recent past, a large proportion of women is lag behind from the privileges of the development programs. The reason for the backwardness is very straight forward. The general conception of women is dependencies to others. As a girl child is born in an unwelcome world, male child is treated as the blessing for the family, there is very little to think about girls after their birth and even after ages they do not imagine a life without the contribution of the counterparts (male members in a family). This scenario is anticipated much more vulnerable when we ask about decision making for social and economic purposes, financial empowerment, health status etc. This story was a very representative feature of our women society in the recent past. In our paper, the researchers try to find out a present condition of women empowerment in Bangladesh by having primary data from Rajshahi district. The data set composes both rural and urban information regarding women status in different socio-economic and political variables. These variables are described through the descriptive and empirical statistics. The results of our approaches illustrate various significant features of women participation in national building in Bangladesh. In addition, the motto of the study is to find out either there is any regional discrimination or not regarding urban and rural women empowerment. The study has been designed in three major parts, such as a brief description of previous literatures, data and method, after that we discuss the results of our analysis. Finally, some distinctive policy suggestions have been approached. 2. Objectives and Research Questions The main objective of our study is to find out the comparative women empowerment scenario in urban and rural regions of Bangladesh. The study also tried to find out the factors influencing socio economic differentiation of the women in both regions as general objectives. Finally we postulated the following research question with considering our objectives. a) Does women empowerment occur in the both parts of the country simultaneously? b) What are the indications admitting female participation in the development process? c) How much they have the access in decision making in economic, political and social segment comparing to the past? d) Finally, are urban women having better prevalence than rural women? 3. Literature Review Women empowerment in Bangladesh has been discussed since the birth of Bangladesh as the women folk had a supreme sacrifice and contribution to the liberation war in Paper ID: ART2020408 10.21275/ART2020408 1755