International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 3(5), pp. 169 - 175
DOI: 10.13189/ijrh.2015.030502
Reprint (PDF) (273Kb)

Coping and Resilience: Women Headed Households in Bangladesh Floods

Venkat Pulla ^1,*, Tulshi Kumar Das ^2
1 Coordinator, Social Work Discipline, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane
² Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

Literature is bountiful in relation to different theories and approaches that advocate for resiliency in individuals, families and communities. One widely acknowledged fact is that people build up resilience on the basis of their experience that they gain through their day-to-day hardship and struggles. For those who often live in fragile environments and vulnerability, there is the capacity for resilience to become a part of the culture of a community; becoming absorbed, entrenched and then bequeathed to each subsequent generation. This paper spotlights a group of women who live in an area of Bangladesh that is known for both its poverty and its regular tendency to flood, hereby regularly putting them, their families and their communities at risk of losing lives and/or their livelihoods. Through their narrations, the authors will demonstrate the human capacity to endure adversity, loss, vulnerability and destruction and still maintain the indomitable spirit of acceptance, hope and flourishment. Coping strategy is a central theme throughout. The authors provide accounts which outline the means by which these women practically and psychologically, prepare for and endure the regular and destructive nature of flooding. A brief discussion occurs in relation to the implication of some aspects of social work assistance in the context of women and floods. 'This is every year affair. As the affected 'we don't have to lose our dreams and hopes, we need to face it and move on for survival' (research participant).

KEYWORDS
Cultural and Generational Resilience, Adversity, Vulnerability, Hope, Endurance

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Venkat Pulla , Tulshi Kumar Das , "Coping and Resilience: Women Headed Households in Bangladesh Floods," International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 169 - 175, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/ijrh.2015.030502.

(b). APA Format:
Venkat Pulla , Tulshi Kumar Das (2015). Coping and Resilience: Women Headed Households in Bangladesh Floods. International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice(CEASE PUBLICATION), 3(5), 169 - 175. DOI: 10.13189/ijrh.2015.030502.