Decision Making Role of Married Tharu Women in Their Household (A Case Study in Punarwas, Kanchanpur, Nepal)
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Department of Sociology
Abstract
The general perception in Nepalese society is women should remain inside the
boundary of house and engaged in household core. They were mainly given three roles
or responsibility i.e. rearing, bearing and caring. The Tharu women of far western, they
don’t have access to their rights as education, health and economy. Women are highly
dominated by men; this is due to the system of patriarchy. The decision made by women
is not given more valuable or considered properly. They have still not enjoyed with
their rights and basic needs. Because of this, the socio- economic condition is in
despicable situations. Similar situation may prevail among the Tharu community.
Therefore, this study is focused to address the socio-economic condition of married
Tharu women in kailali ward no.5 of far western region.
This study tries to focus on socio-economic status of Married Tharu women and
decision-making role in household activities. The respondents were taken from
Punarwas of Kanchanpur District which lies in Province No.8 of federal structure of
Nepal. All together total of 50 respondents were taken for this study. The primary data
are collected from the study area by direct interview with married tharu women using
the questionnaire. In this study the respondents (Married Tharu Women) are age group
of 18-60 years. Only few of the respondents they are literate. In case of Tharu women
decision making has not been practiced by most of them. Due to their tradition and
culture, they are forced to marry at early age. During the study period, it is seen that
women in Tharu community have less participation in decision making; be it the
political and social activities or the economic activities. Majorities of respondents they
are not involved in political and social programs, this is due to the lack of education.
Majority of the respondents they are not considered as the head of the family.
Respondent’s husband and in-laws were considered as the head of the family. The main
sources income of the respondents they have bank account to save their income but 61
percent of respondent have rights to use their own accounts. Only few of respondents
got training on women’s empowerment. In this 21
vi
st
century also the respondents
(Married Tharu Women) they have still the practice to visit the Gurwa (Priest) and so
many other alternatives when the fall in sick. In this study the respondents reported that
the main cause of women was being deprived in society are due to lack of knowledge,
lack of awareness and due to traditional and culture evils etc. This is because of our
Patriarchy and lack of education.