Household Livelihood Support and Gender in Mahalaxmi Municipality-4, Lalitpur, Nepal

Abstract

This study explores the household livelihood support and gender, primarily focusing on the financial contributions made by men and women. This study aims to compare gender differences in financial contributions across various areas of household livelihood support, including daily necessities, education, health, EMI/rent, savings and loan payments, and recreation. It also examines the factors influencing these differences and explores the reasons behind them. The research was conducted in Mahalaxmi Municipality-4, Lalitpur, Nepal, using a mixed-method approach that combined surveys and in-depth interviews. A total of 384 respondents were participated. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and interview guides. Data analysis was performed by applying descriptive statistics, crosstabulation, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. The reliability of the tools was validated by using the test-retest method.The findings reveal significant gender disparities in household livelihood support. Men are generally the primary earners, contributing more towards major household expenses such as daily necessities, education, and healthcare. Women, despite earning less, allocate a higher proportion of their income to household expenditures. Women are also more engaged in own household work, limiting their participation in higher-paying economic activities. Factors such as income levels, education, family size, and socio-cultural norms play a crucial role in shaping these differences. Furthermore, financial decision-making remains largely maledominated, although decided jointly.The study concludes that gender disparities in household livelihood support stem from inequalities in employment opportunities, income distribution, anddecision-making power. While women’s contributions both financial and non-financial are essential for household well-being, they areoften undervalued. Keywords: gender differences, household livelihood, Nepal, socio-cultural norms, contribution.