This has important implications for the female population of the area in particular, as violence and general insecurity are experienced differently and more directly by women in Bangladesh than by men. Gambling, which was earlier regarded as a serious social problem in the communities, has been curbed through social pressure from other VO members. This also has gender implications, as men's gambling away their limited incomes often leads to hardship in the family, and can directly contribute to a rise in domestic violence. Women's status within their families and in society has improved. Female VO members report that their husbands more frequently consult them when taking decisions regarding household expenditures.
Women move about more freely and feel less restrained from walking outside unaccompanied by a man.
In addition, with improvements in women's economic opportunities and opportunities for women to take collective action on their problems, there has been a significant decline in gender-based problems, such as child marriages, polygamy, dowry and domestic violence. VO members' own evaluation of changes in the quality of services to which they have access, reveal a markedly higher service quality today. Banks, the post-office, government departments all provide a better service to the VO members than they did previously. In addition to this, the VOs have themselves taken the initiative in setting up 19 schools, of which 17 are currently functional. The climate of empowerment created by these multiple changes in village society has also contributed to a number of female VO members seeking office in local government through contesting the local level elections.