The purpose of this paper is to summarize the findings of an initial pilot study in 1991, in Dhaka city, and to explore the issues of marital instability among working wives. Bangladesh is a region of strong patriarchal values, imposing many rules of seclusion, taboos for the female members of the society.

Bangladeshi women contribute substantially to their households and to the country's economy. The majority of women workers are primarily involved in the informal sector of the economy. Within the formal sector, a large number of women work in export-oriented industries (e.g., garments), the source of 70 percent of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange.