The Nexus between Extreme Weather Events, Sexual Violence and Early Marriage: A Study of Vulnerable Populations in Bangladesh
(2019) Population and Environment — Vol. 40, n° 3, p. 303-324 (2019)
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- Abstract
- This study aims to explore whether a relationship exists between extreme weather events, sexual violence, and early marriage. We selected two districts in Bangladesh that are vulnerable to extreme weather events: Sunamganj, which experiences flash flooding, and Brahmanbaria, which experiences cyclones and related floods. Survey data was collected from 120 randomly selected household heads from two villages in these districts, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 household heads who indicated early marriage was a coping strategy for managing effects of weather events. The mixed methods study finds that early marriage of daughters is a coping strategy for managing two negative consequences of extreme weather events. First, by minimizing household expenses householders can pay for damage-related expenses. Second, unmarried daughters may be subject to sexual violence during a crisis, especially in temporary shelters, which would harm both the family’s and daughter’s reputation and prevent future marriage.
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Citations
Khandaker Jafor, A., Shah Md Atiqul Haq, & Bartiaux, F. (2019). The Nexus between Extreme Weather Events, Sexual Violence and Early Marriage: A Study of Vulnerable Populations in Bangladesh. Population and Environment, 40(3), 303-324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-019-0312-3 (Original work published 2019)