Effects of outmigration of labour migrants on gender roles: A Study in Nepal
Online Access
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/4612459Abstract
In Nepal, growing number of men work abroad leaving their wives back home. Study on the situation of these left behind wives is limited so far. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of outmigration of male labour migrants on gender roles in Nepalese context and to understand whether outmigration has bearing on women’s empowerment. Adopting purposive sampling and snowball technique, 38 respondents were accessed and interviewed from three districts of Nepal: Kathmandu, Kavrepalanchowk and Makwanpur. The findings of this study revealed that the effect of outmigration of husband on gender roles is contextual and is not homogeneous. Outmigration of husband increased the work burden of wives in nuclear families particularly agricultural work whereas in extended families, wives’ roles remained almost same. In the study sample, most wives had access to resources but control on them was limited. Most wives had authority to make decision on everyday household expense but for large expenses and investments, they had to discuss with husbands. Outmigration of husband expanded avenue for wives to interact in public sphere. The study also reported family structure, employment of wives and development intervention aspects were influential on changing gender roles and women’s empowerment in addition to outmigration of husbands.Date
2014Type
H2Identifier
oai:lup-student-papers.lub.lu.se:4612459http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/4612459