Social Science Review

The current research is related to educated women empowerment in Bangladesh, where Rajshahi metropolis has been selected as the research area. Information has been collected from 81 women purposively selected from 3 wards of Rajshahi city through social survey. The present research has been conducted with three objectives in mind, namely-to-know the socio-economic context of educated women empowerment in Bangladesh, the current status of women empowerment and the impact of women empowerment in urban Bangladesh. It can be seen that, the selected women in the research are educated and for being educated, they are involved in various earning activities. As a result of which women can participate in family decision-making process. Besides, almost all the women included in the study have their own savings. So it can be said that, the women of Bangladesh are currently pioneers in terms of empowerment.    Read full article

The topic aims to analyze and compare the electoral management systems in Bangladesh and the United States of America (USA). The study is examining the legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, actors and the role of technology in the electoral management process of both countries. By comparing both countries, the study is identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their respective electoral management process based on their guiding principles (independence, impartiality, integrity, transparency, accountability, efficiency, professionalism, and rule of law) and draw lessons for improving electoral integrity and democratic governance in Bangladesh. The research is based on a combination of desk research, interviews, and comparative analysis of electoral data. The study is relevant to academics, policymakers, civil society organizations, and electoral management bodies interested in promoting free and fair elections and democratic governance.   Read full article

Active play has important benefits for children’s social development, physical health, and mental well-being, but many children do not meet the recommended hours of playtime. This study attempts to understand the present state of affairs regarding children’s access to play in Rajshahi City. It examines the factors that motivate and limit children’s active play. This study is qualitative and was conducted in Rajshahi City using focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) research techniques. A total of 15 FGDs were carried out, of which eight were with children and seven were with parents. Data were also collected through KIIs from different stakeholders, including the city mayor, councilors, urban planners, sports academics, and government officials, who are active in ensuring children’s access to play. The study revealed that children were enthusiastic to participate in active play because they got direct benefits from it. However, children’s play was limited by several factors, including a lack of playgrounds and open spaces, excessive study pressure, security issues, the addiction to electronic games, and a lack of siblings and cousins due to nuclear family. Beyond such constraints, it is needed to ensure children’s access to play by supporting all sorts from the different corners of the state and society, including local government, schools, families, and neighbors. A comprehensive plan of action is required, and it is a fundamental concern to protect children’s right to play and to explore their physical and social world through playing.    Read full article

The study explores the relationship between service process simplification and customer satisfaction within the context of a governmental service setting, focusing on the Gopalganj passport office. The study aims to find out the impact of streamlined service processes on customer experiences and satisfaction levels. Using a mixed methods approach data was collected through structured questionnaires administered to customers and semi-structured questionnaires conducted with staff members. Findings revealed that the majority of customers expressed high levels of satisfaction with the simplified service processes, opportunities for further enhancement were identified particularly in technological integration, streamlined procedures and accessibility improvements. Staff perspectives highlighted the positive impact of simplification initiatives on efficiency, yet underscored the need for continuous training and technological updates. The study emphasizes the significance of a customer centric approach, combined with regular training, technological advancement, streamlined processes and effective communication channels as the key drivers for fostering an efficient accessible and customer- friendly passport office environment.    Read full article

Widowhood is a significant life transition that often brings profound changes to a woman’s physical well-being, especially in rural settings where support systems are limited. In this study, the profound impact of widowhood on the physical well-being of women is explored in the Parila Union, Paba Upazila, Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. The main objective of this study was to assess the differences in health status before and after widowhood and to identify the key factors influencing these health outcomes. Conducted across 16 villages, social survey method was employed to comprehensively examine the experiences of 201 widows. The findings revealed a significant shift in health status during post-widowhood, with approximately 75% of widows facing various physical health challenges. Moreover, 80% of the widows reported an escalation in the severity of their illnesses after widowhood. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and support systems, emphasizing the pivotal roles of social support networks, economic stability, and individual coping mechanisms in mitigating health issues during widowhood. The significance of culturally sensitive healthcare services is highlighted to address the unique challenges faced by these widows in their cultural context. This research contributes to a broader understanding of the impact of widowhood and advocates for empowering rural widows to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.    Read full article

This article aims to present a comprehensive framework for researchers exploring the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on youth culture. By reviewing previous studies in this field, the research evaluates methodologies employed to understand how ICTs influence the cultural practices of contemporary youth. Through an examination of relevant literature, the study highlights the effectiveness of various research approaches, emphasizing mixed methods as the most robust strategy for investigating this area. This work serves as a valuable guide for novice researchers, offering insights into designing studies that effectively capture the dynamic interplay between ICTs and youth culture.    Read full article

Menstruation is a natural and very much essential biological process that experience by adolescent girls and women of reproductive working age. In the country of Bangladesh, menstruation often has surrounded by socio-cultural limitations and taboos that lead to adverse health outcomes for adolescent girls. The study has been carried out to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and experiences around menstruation and the barriers they face, disposing of menstrual products and the health seeking behavior during menstrual problems of adolescent girls and young adult women. This study focused on two major slums namely Vatar Khal Slum and Stadium Colony Slum in Barishal. The study has been conducted by mixed method containing with quantitative and qualitative research approaches. There are 110 sample used for survey. Besides 04 case studies, 03 key information interviews (KIIs), 02 focus group discussion (FGDs) have been chosen for in-depth study as qualitative method. Only 18.19% of the respondents have the knowledge about menstruation. Majority of the girls are found to use cloth during their menstrual period. They were suffering from health problems related to menstruation. Out of all only 30% of the girls consulted to the doctors about menstrual health problem. The findings of the study indicate the unhealthy practices of menstrual management are very highly prevalent that affect their reproductive health.    Read full article

A well-known and widely-used spice crop is turmeric. Additionally, turmeric has various health benefits. Turmeric farming, processing, and marketing are well known in Fulbaria Upazilla of the Mymensingh District. Our study provided an estimate of the profitability, issues, and future of turmeric farming in Fulbaria Upazilla. Fulbaria Upazilla is home to a large number of turmeric farmers. Using a carefully constructed questionnaire, information was gathered from 100 farmers. The research showed that growing turmeric is a successful farming industry. The residents of the study region benefit financially from the sale of turmeric. The BCR of the farmers in this sample was 1.41. It suggests that turmeric farms with BCRs above 1 have greater benefits than costs. In other words, it offers gains overall. In our study location, producing turmeric is a significant farm enterprise. Numerous factors, including seed cost, labor cost, irrigation cost, transportation cost, etc., had a favorable impact on gross return in the research area. However, farmers deal with several issues, such as a lack of funding, a shortage of storage facilities for turmeric, a poor market price for spice, and natural disasters. The goal of this research is to identify the economic value of producing turmeric and offer answers to certain challenges. Furthermore, it will offer suggestions for utilizing contemporary modern technologies to improve the situation of turmeric production and processing.    Read full article

Work-family conflict (WFC) affects people of all countries and cultural backgrounds. However, in diverse communities characterized by distinct cultures, the kind and measure are likely to differ. This study delves into the intricate dynamics of work-family conflicts married teachers’ face in the ever-changing setting of Bangladeshi public universities. The study adopts a mixed methods approach, incorporating surveys, statistical analysis, and in-depth interviews (IDI), to acknowledge the complex relationship between work and family obligations. An online based Google survey and a simple random sampling technique have been employed to obtain the data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and independent sample t-test were employed to assess the data. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that married teachers encounter, we surveyed 120 respondents from various public institutions, occupations, and demographic backgrounds for the quantitative data, and we conducted 22 in-depth interviews for the qualitative data. Our study shows male and female teachers experience work-family difficulties due to excessive workloads, long hours, and rigid work schedules. Furthermore, the average scores for work-family conflict, life happiness, and job satisfaction are 49.63 ± 13.15, 15.19 ± 4.63, and 3.45 ± 0.74, respectively. The results showed a negative association between work-family conflict and life satisfaction and job satisfaction. Satisfaction with one's work life correlates positively with general well-being. The results strongly recommend flexible work schedules, family support programs, and efforts to address the specific challenges married teachers face, which have policy implications for organizations.    Read full article

In any country or society higher education is acknowledged as an instrument for social change. Generally, there are three-layer mainstream educational levels in Bangladesh such as; primary, secondary, and tertiary where female education comprehends all levels of education. The prime objective of this study is to reveal the participation of female students in tertiary education which includes honors and masters level. It is the highest academic and institutional layer of conventional education where female pupils can shape them to be empowered. Although women are increasingly completing higher education, it remains crucial to women's empowerment in the country. So that it assesses how post-secondary education impact women's empowerment to harmonize against the patriarchal society like in Bangladesh. It will also highlight some barriers which hinder emancipation of women to access to policy level, leadership roles, adequate research and study opportunities, IT competency, financial solvency, sociocultural recognition, participation in relevant extracurricular activities, and so on. Finally, this study will discuss government initiatives and suggest some recommendations to overcome women’s position to succeed in advancing gender equality.    Read full article