Women’s Empowerment in Bangladesh: Legal Strategies Sidestepping Social Norms

Abstract

Women's economic empowerment remains a significant challenge in Bangladesh despite notable progress in education, health, and political participation. Women's engagement in economic activities continues to be constrained by entrenched gender norms, unpaid care work, and internalised beliefs that limit their agency. This article examines the relationship between law, social norms, and behavioural change in advancing women's economic empowerment. Drawing on post-structuralist theory, particularly Foucault's concepts of discourse and power, it argues that gender inequality is sustained through dominant narratives that shape perceptions of women's roles and capabilities. The article contends that law can serve as a transformative instrument by producing alternative discourses that challenge existing power structures. It further proposes a pragmatic behavioural strategy that leverages prevailing social preferences, especially concerns for child welfare, to encourage women's economic participation. Rather than directly confronting social norms, this approach seeks to expand women's agency and promote gender equality through gradual and socially acceptable pathways.