Figure 45. Women who work GENDER AND LIVELIHOOD Twelve percent of families report that women contribute in one or more ways to household income (figure 45). This figure is only slightly higher, 14 percent, for women-headed households. Some families address the hardships of camp life through the employment opportunities available to women. 12% of households report that women contribute to family income in some way Sixty-three percent of women who contribute to the household’s income do so from inside their home. Activities include tailoring, making snacks, and selling retail items. For women who earn income outside of the home, NGO work is the most common way (52 percent of women earning an income). Other women teach religion to girls, do domestic work, or perform daily labor (figure 46). Figure 46. Sources of income earned by women CONTENDING WITH FEAR AND RISK Shelter-based activities like snack-making and tailoring Families’ financial concerns intersect with their worries about security, safety, and the future, with 97 percent of households feeling “very worried” about forced repatriation (figure 47). The lack of livelihood opportunities (about which 96 percent are “very worried”) and lack of education opportunities (about which 95 percent are “very worried”) are additional concerns. 63% Working with NGOs Beyond these immediate worries, families expressed their concerns about the future more generally. Survey respondents were asked to provide a final comment on any issue of importance to them. Many shared their desire to return to Myanmar as soon as possible. The concerns mentioned most frequently were rights (34 percent), going back (23 percent), and justice (20 percent) (figure 48). 52% Teach religious subjects to girls at a madrassa or private learning center 6% Domestic work in the camp 5% Domestic work outside of the camp 3% Daily labor <1% n = 207; multiple response A woman’s father or husband influences her mobility and ability to earn income It is generally considered more socially acceptable for women to contribute to household income if they can do so from within or in proximity to the family shelter. According to one woman, “I’m interested in working, but my husband doesn’t allow it, so how can I?” When asked if he would allow her to earn income from inside the shelter, she said, “Yes, I’d like that. And my husband would allow it, too.” A 43-year-old father who lost many agrarian assets in Myanmar and now struggles with poverty explained that he may start allowing his two teenage daughters to work and support the family: “They may work. It is ok with me as long as it’s not too far from the shelter, because I’m in a difficult financial situation.” Another father said his daughter could work for an NGO “if she is allowed to use a hijab, the job is near our shelter, and she stays covered. Working inside the shelter would be better than going out, though.” The nature of women’s livelihood contributions has changed. Some women said that they missed the farm and household work they used to perform in Myanmar. Some of these were done inside the family’s walled compounds, where women’s modesty could be guarded. According to one woman, “In Myanmar, we had land and a farm. My husband and some laborers worked it, and I did many tasks inside the house and compound. I helped with the poultry. I did some farm work. Here we cannot do this. There is no way to do it in a small shelter.” 38