Gender Disparity

Gender disparity means the unequal treatment, opportunities, rights or social position of people because of their gender, and it remains an important social issue in Bangladesh despite considerable progress in recent decades. Gender disparity can be seen in education, employment, wages, decision-making, access to resources, political participation and household responsibilities. In the past, girls in Bangladesh faced serious barriers to education, early marriage and economic participation, but the situation has improved considerably, particularly in school enrolment. According to UNICEF, Bangladesh has achieved near-universal primary school enrolment among both girls and boys, although many children drop out as they become older; for girls, child marriage is one of the important reasons for leaving school. UNICEF also reports that only 64% of children go on to complete secondary education, showing that access to education remains a challenge even when primary enrolment is