Women's Livelihoods in the Coastal belt of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is widely recognized to be one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world (MoEF, 2009). Disasters impact men and woman differently with women being more vulnerable than men, both to short-term recurring climatic events (major natural disasters) and long-term climate-induced changes (sea level rise, salinity intrusion in water and soil, land erosion, droughts) because they magnify existing social and gender inequalities. Gender-based shifts in economic opportunities, women’s mobility outside the home, and income are slowly changing family and social norms; however, unequal intra-household power relations and gender-based socio-economic, cultural, and institutional constraints remain (Sultana, 2011). So, for adaptation to climate change impacts, understanding gender dimensions and taking gender responsive steps will be vital for Bangladesh.