Nexus Between Foreign Remittances and Women’s Empowerment in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

This study examines the impact of male out-migration and foreign remittances on women’s empowerment in rural Bangladesh, focusing on left-behind wives in migrant households (MHs). Drawing on a mixed-methods case study approach across two distinct rural districts, the research investigates how control over remittances influences women’s autonomy, mobility and decision-making power. Anchored in Kabeer’s empowerment framework and Sen’s capability approach, the analysis reveals that remittances serve as a critical resource that can expand women’s agency and capabilities—particularly when women themselves manage the funds. Women in nuclear MHs, where patriarchal constraints are weaker, demonstrate significantly greater empowerment than those in joint households. However, the benefits of remittances are unevenly distributed and shaped by household structure and cultural norms. The findings suggest that while remittances have the potential to transform gender roles and reduce inequality, this outcome is contingent on women’s access to financial control. Policy recommendations include promoting financial literacy, ensuring secure remittance channels and aligning empowerment strategies with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality. This study contributes to the discourse on gender and migration by highlighting how transnational economic flows can reshape local gender dynamics when mediated through enabling structures.