Role and Status of Rural Elderly in Bangladesh: Patterns and Changes

Abstract

The issue of aging is now an emerging aspect of all over the world. Both the rural and urban societies of our country are not also immune from this problem. This study mainly explored the role and status of the elderly in rural Bangladesh. It is based on empirical findings from the four villages of Gopalnagar union of Dhunat upazila of Bogra district. Besides, the study also depicted the socio-economic conditions of the elderly, their position in decision making process, the influence of wealth on the enjoyment of role and status, and their role and status in the family and the rural community. Mixed approach has been given priority in this study. Survey, observation, case study and life history methods and focus group discussion technique have also been used in this study. Data have been collected from both primary and secondary sources. The secondary data have been collected from August 2009 to August 2010. The primary data have been collected from January 2011 to January 2012. Simple random sampling procedure followed in this study. The study analyzed that the socio-economic conditions of the rural elderly are not good. That is, low rate of literacy, male headed family, living below the poverty line, limited sources of income, spending lives without sanitary latrine, taking bath without bathroom etc. are significantly existed among the elderly. The position of elderly in decision making process is also vulnerable. The element which helps to take part in decision making process is not sufficient for them. It has also found out that the wealth has greater influence on the enjoyment of role and status. This study has also found the declined role and status of the elderly in the family and the society as well. The study has also identified that the elderly are engaging various unpaid and invisible household activities which are not taken into consideration by the people of family and society as well. Considering this, the researcher made an attempt to develop a theory as a byproduct which he entitled as the slighted/ ignored/ disregarded engagement theory.