Gender Difference- How Does it Affect Trade Union Struggle? A Qualitative Study on Female Workers of Bangladeshi RMG Industries
Gender Difference- How Does it Affect Trade Union Struggle? A Qualitative Study on Female Workers of Bangladeshi RMG Industries

Summary/Abstract: How can we account for the persistence of underrepresentation of women employees from organizational power and leadership in trade unions in spite of their increasing proportion of the labor force? The fundamental aim of this article is to explore how at more profound level cultures of gender differences are strongly embedded especially in traditional unions and among traditional male leadership in Bangladeshi ready-made garment industries (RMG). The study is qualitative and based on empirical findings from a field study conducted on RMG workers in Bangladesh. Findings of this study demonstrate that although the rate of female participation in the RMG industries has increased over the years, it does not coincide with their rate of trade union participation. To some extents although the number of female unionists have increased in practice these does not result in gender opportunity in formal positions. Empirical evidence reveals that at more profound level cultures of gender discriminatory practices are strongly embedded especially in traditional unions and among traditional male leaderships. However, findings also reveal an increasing evidence of changing attitudes among young female unionists to take the challenges of leadership along with their male counterparts. An optimistic reading of these changes sees the possibilities for increasing inclusion and gender equity within trade unions.

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