Studies

This study involves a comparative case study of agro-processing firm workers and informal domestic workers in Uganda and Bangladesh, enabling us to analyze differences between the formal and informal economy and resulting implications for young women’s voice and agency. This study aims to contribute to an understanding of the processes of empowerment of young females, which may enable them to challenge workplace sexual harassment.

Researchers: Maheen Sultan; Lopita Huq; Kabita Chowdhury; Saklain Al Mamun

Partners: BRAC; Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex; School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University in Kampala

Timeline: 2020–2022

Status: Ongoing

Contact: Maheen Sultan; maheen.sultan@bracu.ac.bd

Publications:

• Report: The Gendered Price of Precarity: Voicing and Challenging Workplace Sexual Harassment
• Blog: Young Domestic Workers in Bangladesh Face the Economic Fallout from COVID-19

Context

While employment is considered an avenue for young women’s empowerment, workplace sexual harassment (WSH) is widespread and detrimental to empowerment. This study aims to contribute to an understanding of the processes of empowerment of young females, which may enable them to challenge WSH. The project involves comparative case study research of agro-processing firm workers and informal domestic workers in Uganda and Bangladesh, enabling us to analyse differences between the formal and informal economy and resulting implications for young women’s voice and agency. We will pay specific attention to everyday language on WSH and the role of social-cultural norms. The qualitative research approach will involve a cooperative inquiry with young men and women, to ensure young people’s central involvement in the study and the inclusion of their perspectives on solutions. Overall, the project will primarily contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality and decent work for all.

Objectives

1. The study aims to contribute to an understanding of the processes of empowerment of young women, which may enable them to challenge sexual harassment at the workplace.
2. The study will pay specific attention to how women speak about their bodies and forms of sexual harassment.
3. A cooperative inquiry with young men and women will ensure young people’s central involvement in the study and the inclusion of their perspectives on solutions.
4. The project involves comparative case study research of agro-processing firm workers and informal domestic workers in Uganda and Bangladesh. Having a formal or informal job can influence work dynamics and differential risk to exposure to sexual harassment, with implications for young women’s voice and agency.
5. The project will primarily contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality and decent work for all.

This study is relevant to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), particularly to achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls

Methodology

Desk review

We will review scholarship on WSH and gender-based violence globally and for Bangladesh and Uganda; women’s empowerment, voice and agency; and existing policy and regulatory frameworks.

Cooperative inquiry 

Researchers, with female and male youth linked to our civil society partners, will engage in a cooperative inquiry (see section “Youth Involvement”): a well-established approach for bringing in different voices and perspectives (Heron and Reason 2008). The teams will be trained in cooperative inquiry and process facilitation. While the exact focus of the cooperative inquiry will be refined by each team, it is anticipated we will explore how young women and men understand WSH, interact with norms, and their everyday language on WSH.

Qualitative fieldwork

In order to understand voice and empowerment processes, we will map the dynamics of WSH using two methods for each case: 

Four “Safety Audits”: an innovative method developed by the Indian women’s organisation Jagori, involving participatory mapping exercises by groups of young workers to map places, timings and nature of WSH, and who is vulnerable (Viswanath and Basu 2015). 

Eight “Body Mappings” in groups: this method is used to discuss abstract concepts like harassment. It is suitable when working with young women and will allow them to explore the language used around WSH (Coetzee et al. 2019). We will subsequently conduct 20 in-depth, individual interviews per case (40 in Dhaka).

Findings and Recommendations

Sexual harassment in Bangladesh and Uganda is widespread and can go as far as sexual assault, rape, and sexual exploitation. Women express a range of purposive action or agency, but their individual voice and agency remain highly constrained. Social and gender norms constrain young women in articulating transgressive and inappropriate behaviour by men, making them vulnerable to sexual harassment. Social and gender norms influence women’s ability to talk about sexual harassment, leading to euphemisms and lack of responsiveness to authorities. Gender norms limit the voice and agency of women who experience workplace sexual harassment, and paid work will not lead to empowerment when there is a high risk. Critical consciousness and individual agency are necessary for countering workplace sexual harassment, but more formal mechanisms and collective action are needed to empower women and address regressive gender norms.