| Author | Rahaman, Md. Mahbubur |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-26-01 |
| Subject(s) | Women engineers--Employment--Bangladesh--Case studies
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| Note | A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study examined the societal and institutional barriers affecting the career development of female engineers in the public sector of Bangladesh with a particular focus on the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). The research was guided by key questions: how do societal and institutional constraints affect the career development of female engineers compared with their male counterpart in LGED? Accordingly, the main objective was to investigate the impact of organizational and societal barriers on the career development of female engineers by addressing the disparities with their male counterpart, analyzing their perception of those differences, identifying the underlying causes and proposing organizational strategies to support their career advancement.Both quantitative analysis and insights from two senior female officials as key informants (KII) were employed in this study. Primary data were collected from a structured survey administered to both male and female engineers along with in-depth interviews conducted with KI. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests and multiple regression models, while findings from KIIs were used to interpret the statistical findings. The findings revealed that female engineers face significant barriers in career advancement compared to their male counterparts. Institutional factors such as sexism in task allocation, lack of female mentors and biased leadership roles were found to constrain women’s professional growth. Societal expectations regarding family responsibilities and limited mobility further intensified these challenges. The presence of young children was negatively associated with career development highlighting the impact of intensive caregiving responsibilities whereas general caregiving time and parental leave did not show a statistically significant effect. In contrast, male engineers generally experienced fewer structural constraints and benefited more from informal networks and professional exposure. Overall, the study underscores the need for policy interventions that not only enhance women’s access to opportunities but also address structural and cultural biases within organizations. Promoting gender sensitive institutional practices and recognizing diverse forms of professional contribution are essential for fostering equitable career development in the public engineering sector. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (2026) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GDS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko |
| Examination Committee(s) | Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij;Tsusaka, Takuji W. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Bangladesh;AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2026 |
