The struggle of young widows in the tea estates of Bangladesh: a qualitative inquiry

This study aims to investigate the predicament of young widows residing in the tea estates of Bangladesh. The study used qualitative methods to understand how young widows perceive and interpret their experiences of widowhood. Nine young widows were chosen for the in-depth semi-structured interviews using referral sampling. Data were analysed thematically, which was then critically explored and contrasted with the previous literature. The results demonstrated that young widows in the tea gardens struggled to address the psychological, economic, health care, educational, and recreational demands of their children due to declining resource bases. Additionally, young widows face sexual harassment, emotional disturbances, financial insecurity, and gender-sensitive discriminatory cultural practices. The paper advocated for expanding the social safety net in the tea gardens and ensuring land ownership among the tea gardeners.

Automated summary

This study investigates the challenges faced by young widows in the tea estates of Bangladesh. The results reveal that these women struggle with various issues including psychological, economic, and educational difficulties, as well as sexual harassment and cultural discrimination. The study advocates for the expansion of social safety nets and land ownership among tea gardeners.