Gender Role on Food Security and Consumption Practices in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting food security status, patterns of food consumption, and changes in consumption behavior. It also evaluated the gender role in food security and consumption practices in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The research was both in quantitative and qualitative in nature. Qualitative research tools such as FGD, KII and Case Study were used to collect the primary data. Data analysis was done by Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Binary Logistic regression model was used to determine the factors affecting in food security status of the selected households. Regression result shows that income, availability of food and food stock were found to be positive and size of household negatively associated with the food security. Rice dominates the food consumption pattern of the rural people. Income, production, education and awareness are causes of change in consumption behaviour of the people of study area. Men have pivotal role in household food security. Male members involve in income, assure of family assets, and on the contrary female have to manage almost all the unproductive household affairs. In the poorer household women have a little contribution in food security due to male dominating. Women contributions were more than that of men in household food consumption. Most of the household related tasks and household works related to food consumption were done by female.