Abstract—Denial of a rightful share of ancestral lands and
access to resources in a patrilineal customary inheritance laws
characterizes the unequal power relationships of indigenous
women in Bangladesh. Indigenous women face discrimination,
social exclusion, structural marginalization, gender identity and
systemic oppression in the patriarchal society
in Bangladesh.
Descent and property is transmitted through the male line in
the two
indigenous communities, namely: Santal
and Oraon.
Women remain systemically devalued without property and
genealogical identity. Women are deprived of hereditary rights
and have
limited control over household resources and the
decision-making process. They are confined to domestic
workloads. They are marginalized, excluded from holding
powerful decision making positions. Socially and economically
they face multiple systemic discriminations. The research
makes the case that rationalization of customary practices of
inheritance in line with national and international policy
instruments is significant for human rights-based equitable
policy implications
for improved livelihood,
gender justice and
life chances of indigenous women in Bangladesh.
Index Terms—Indigenous women, marginalization,
customary practices, women development policy, gender
justice.
Lawrence Besra is with the Flinders University, Australia (e-mail:
besr0001@flinders.edu.au).
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Cite: Lawrence Besra, " Do Indigenous Women Have Right to Inherit Land? A Critical Review of Customary Practices of Land Inheritance with Reference to Gender Justice in Bangladesh," International Journal of Social Science and Humanity vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 339-343, 2014.