Nexus Between Foreign Remittances and Women’s Empowerment in Rural Bangladesh

This study examines the impact of male out-migration and foreign remittances on women’s empowerment in rural Bangladesh, focusing on left-behind wives in migrant households (MHs). Drawing on a mixed-methods case study approach across two distinct rural districts, the research investigates how control over remittances influences women’s autonomy, mobility and decision-making power. Anchored in Kabeer’s empowerment framework and Sen’s capability approach, the analysis reveals that remittances serve as a critical resource that can expand women’s agency and capabilities—particularly when women themselves manage the funds. Women in nuclear MHs, where patriarchal constraints are weaker, demonstrate significantly greater empowerment than those in joint households. However, the benefits of remittances are unevenly distributed and shaped by household structure and cultural norms. The findings suggest…