Access and Role of Women on Household Decision Making (A Case Study Of Biratnagar Sub Metropolitan City, Ward No- 11)

Abstract

In general, this study attempts to analyze the women’s role in household decision-making among the people of Biratnagar Sub metropolitan city ward no11.The main objective of this study is to analyze the women’s role in their household decision-making and to assess the influencing factors of women’s role in decision-making. In the present study, descriptive research design has been applied. The qualitative and quantitative data were acquired. Qualitative as well as quantitative methods have been applied to collect primary data. The applied data collection techniques are Interview, Key Informant Interview and Focus Group Discussion. The total of 100 respondents were selected using random sampling method among the families at the study area. The research findings suggested that there are; 44 % males and 56% females where the majority of the respondents were Brahmin and Chhetri. With regard to family structure 53 households have joint family and 47 houses holds have nuclear family. Near about half of the respondents are illiterate (47%) out of which 29 percent are female. Mostly females are involved in land cultivation (52%), taking care for livestock (49%) and cooking activities (55%), firewood collection (64%) collection grass and fodder (81%). More women are involved in household chores (57%) than males (20%).Males have higher decision making power for purchasing households goods (74%). With compared to females (12%).Higher proportion of females (57%) is engaged in decision with regard to cropping pattern. Male’s decision has dominant roles in borrowing money (54.8%) and lending money (79.3%) compared to females (25.8% and 13.8% respectively).Decision for business investment has great influence of males (65.6%) compared to females(15.6). Some important recommendations are: educational level of women should be raised; proper management should be made to empower them and training institutes to provide employment opportunities. They should have access over land and property; awareness programs should be launched to eliminate the gender discrimination. Women should be brought into the main stream of the development, moreover in the nation building. There should be respected the voices of the women in the society as well as in state. Women should be participated in the restructuring Nepal through the social inclusion. Encouragement should be done to them to participate in the social activities. Opportunities should be given to them in decision-making process inside as well as outside their houses. Legal provision should be practiced in behavior; policies and programs related to the women’s participation, their empowerment should be implemented effectively. From the academic point of view, there is needed to carryout the further research in the same topic but in the other areas for policy implication in the field of enhances the women’s role in decision-making through household, community level and the national level as a whole. Thus, there is needed to undertake the research in the various fields of the women of the Sampled households such as socio-economic status of the women, women’s participation in politics, community development and resource mobilization, other influencing factors of the women’s role in decision-making, gender issue, women’s participation in decision-making in the ecological basis and in deferent level and fields, women’s participation in nation-building through social inclusion and so on.