Participation of Rural Women in Household Decision Making Process (A Case Study of Phogatpur Area of Thakre Village Development Committee in Dhading District , Nepal)

Abstract

Women's population is more than men's population in Nepal. They aredominating from historical period by men as well as human beings. They arenot enjoying equal decision making power with their male counterparts. Theyare discriminated since their childhood. In childhood they have to live undertheir parents, in adulthood, they should follow their husbands and in old agethey are under their children. They have no liberty to decide freely in all levelof decision making procss. The economic, demographic and social factors have the strong roleinterms of decision making power women are not in leading roles they areconsidered as second grade citizen and play sub-ordinate role in the householdas well as society. They are less comfortable in decision making field. In thisstudy we finds that the females who have higher educational background andemployed have higher decision making power that merely illiterate householdfamily. Our society is male dominated. Males have superior status inmost ofthe cases and female have to follow to them. Even then can not decide for child,for child birth Education, Employment, on lending money, Borrowing moneyand goods, and others activities treatment of illness. Women's empowermentbattle is necessaryfor holistic and sustainable development. There is prevalentquotation "man and women are two wheels of the same cart". Men and womenboth must be stand in equal status to developed the society. That's why women'sempowerment is essential, for rural development women's participation mustbe equal in each aspects and political activities and women's role most beequall in decision-making process in administration socio economic andpolitical sector that is women's empowerment. In rural area; women's condition is very poor in all aspects and theyare unskilled due to different causes. Education is the 1 5 st essential element of development. But must of are uneducated because of tradition cultural andsuperstition people think that daughter is like animals for selling. she mustgoes to the other home because of the conservative thoughts. They don't sendschool to daughter. The 2 nd element of undevelopment of women is "dowrysystem". Dowry system is also one of the main challenges for the upliftment ofwomen. Rural; urban; mountain; Hill and terai areas are suffering from thedowry system day by day. partiarchal social status. Domestic violence, unequaldealing and existing upto now in our rural society. Thus rural women's statusis very miserable and sorrowful in Nepalese context. This is micro study, due to which it may not be generalized at macrolevel. Research Design is slightly descriptive as well as analytical. The primarydata was collected with the help of Technique (Household serveg) and tools(Household Questionnaire). The secondary data was used from variouspuplication, published by different Go' s, NGO' s institutions or agonies. In this study,Out of 497 household in study area having different casteand ethnic groups only 50 HHS (10 percent) have been taken Sampled (22 aremales and 28 Females) Households heads were the respondents either theywere male or female. Simple mathematical methods; Like, average, percentage,Figures, Charts and tables are used in relevant places to the main topics intosub-heading according to the nature of data have been chosen according to thefindings. This study we concluded that Females have low socio-economic statusand their male counterparts in household decision making power. It isessentialto improve their ability and capacity to participate major the decision makingroles, Unlessfemales are not brought in to the mainstreams of developmentactivities. It is impossible to develop society as well as the nation. Educationand women empowerment plays a vital role in rural development. This study suggests the Females have to work more but less decisionmaking power. Most of the cases they have reporting their male-partners for 6 decision. They have no chance to decide for it. If there is any problems tocomplete the work, they can not decide that moment, they have to ask for male;women's works are highly admirable their contribution to their household areusually discounted. They also deprived of household decision making processas well as social opportunities the fact that women as the oppressed andsuppressed late still persists. This is reflected in almost all aspects of their lives(inside as well as outside of the house). Although this differs from community ofcommunity. The over all picture of Nepalese women remains more or less thensame. Women should be encouraged participation in all level of decisionmaking process. It is essential to involve females in all aspects of socio-economic as well as development activities for social Justice as well as nationbuilding process. Empowerment and enhancement of economic activities tofemales is essential to raise their status in society and bring them out from thehouseholds boondaries.