Exploring Livelihood Capital Access Among Rural Muslim Young Widows in Bangladesh

Background and Purpose: Widowhood, a life-altering event, presents significant emotional, social, and financial hurdles, especially for young widows with dependent children. Despite growing research on widowhood—especially among older women—there remains a critical need to explore the unique challenges faced by young widows, especially in developing countries where they can often experience limited social mobility and economic disparities. While a few studies have delved into the emotional struggles and social stigma experienced by young widows, there is limited research on the specific barriers they face in accessing livelihood capital.

This paper aims to bridge this gap in knowledge by examining the experiences of young widows in Bangladesh, focusing on the socio-cultural, patriarchal, and economic factors that limit their access to essential livelihood resources and heighten their vulnerability.

Methods: This study used a qualitative design to capture the nuanced experiences of young Muslim widows in rural Bangladesh. Data were collected through 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted in Hajigonj Upazila, Chandpur district. Participants were recruited through the researchers’ social and kinship networks. The sample comprised Muslim women who were widowed between the ages of 16 and 34. The interviews were conducted in the participants’ native language (Bengali) and audio-recorded with their prior consent. After the recorded interviews were transcribed, they were translated into English. Pseudonyms were used to protect participants' identities. Data analysis occurred concurrently with data collection to encourage data saturation. The findings were organized according to the five types of livelihood capital (e.g., human, natural, financial, physical, and social) outlined in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (DFID, 1999).

Findings: The study reveals that young widows in rural Bangladesh face severe limitations in accessing livelihood capital. Early marriage and patriarchal cultural norms constrain educational and skill development opportunities, leaving many participants without marketable skills. Access to natural capital, such as land and property, is restricted due to patriarchal inheritance practices, and many widows have difficulty accessing their legal rights. None of the participants owned any physical assets that could help generate income as a means of self-support. Participants’ financial well-being is dependent on insufficient government allowances; they also lack access to affordable credit or savings. In terms of social capital, conservative norms and stigma associated with widowhood isolate these women, hindering their ability to form supportive networks. Findings from this study highlight the vulnerabilities faced by young widows in rural Bangladesh, further exacerbated by structural and cultural barriers.

Conclusion and Implications: The study highlights the urgent need for targeted support for young widows in rural Bangladesh. Key policy priorities should focus on expanding education and vocational training, enforcing inheritance rights, improving financial inclusion, and addressing social stigma to enhance young widows' livelihood prospects. As a direction for future research, further studies should examine the structural and cultural barriers to inheritance, education, and employment faced by this subpopulation to inform the development of more effective and contextually relevant interventions.