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Gender Relations in Post-Earthquake Kathmandu, Nepal

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MASTER THESIS Gender relations in Post-Earthquake Kathmandu, Nepal Name: Elorry Mahou Student Number: 941025540130 E-Mail: [email protected] Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Elisabet Rasch University: Wageningen University and Research (WUR) Program: Master International Development Studies Specialization: Politics and Governance of Development (PGD) Abstract The earthquake that stoke Nepal in 2015 had a considerable impact on the population as 8,790 people died and more than 22,300 people were injured. Numerous reports and articles address the effect of the earthquake. However, a lack of gendered impact of the earthquake’s assessment and evaluation is observed. This thesis examines how women, and grassroots organizations in Kathmandu, cope with the gendered impact of the earthquake that took place in April 2015 in Nepal. To understand the gendered lived experience of the catastrophe two significant concepts are used throughout the whole research: actor-oriented approach and gendered impact of the earthquake. They allow a bottom-up understanding of the lived experience of women and Nepalese NGOs, as well as their coping strategies on health and safety impacts of the earthquake. This qualitative research is conducted with the help of semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, informal conversations, and photography. It is argued that by using an actor-oriented approach, the thesis shows elements and dynamics of gendered impacts of the earthquake and coping strategies from women and Nepalese NGOs that would not be visible otherwise. The case of the 2015 earthquake shows that the gendered impact of the disaster is multilayered and dynamic and that women were are at a greater risk of health problems and insecurity. Moreover, it indicates that women should not be seen as helpless victims but as actors with agency who can partly resist and alter the gendered impact of a disaster. Keywords: Gender, Earthquake, Actor-oriented approach, Gendered impact of a disaster ii Acknowledgments Throughout this research, Nepal has become a second home country. This thesis was a real journey during which I grew up a lot and realized how lucky I am for all the support I have received. First of all, I want to thank my supervisor Dr. Elisabet Rasch for making this research, and this fantastic experience, possible. Thank you for your expert advice and incredible support throughout this whole process. This research would not be completed without the precious help and time investment of Neera. We started with a work relation – researcher/translator – and as we crossed dusty Kathmandu, you showed me your incredible human qualities and became a friend for life. Thanks, Nisha for opening your house to me and for making me part of your family which will always be in my heart. Thanks to my Nepalese friends, especially Sanjana, Subin, Sandeep, Niraz and Wangyal for your support and friendship. And finally, last but not means least, thanks to Roman for being so patient, a source of inspiration, a best friend, and my boyfriend. To my life-coach – Isabelle Mahou – I owe it all to you. Elorry Mahou August 2018 Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................. II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................................................... III LIST OF FIGURES, TABLES AND PICTURES ................................................................................................... VI LIST OF ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................................................. VI 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1 2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.1 GENDERED IMPACT OF DISASTER.................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 Gender ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 2.1.2 Disaster .............................................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.3 Gendered impact of disaster .................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 ACTOR ORIENTED APPROACH ....................................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 GENDERED IMPACT OF DISASTER LINKED TO ACTOR ORIENTED APPROACH ........................................................ 12 3. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 RESEARCH SETTING........................................................................................................................................................ 15 3.2 THE FIELDWORK ............................................................................................................................................................. 16 3.3 DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3.1 Semi-structured interviews ................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3.2 Participatory observation ...................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.3 Informal conversations ........................................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.4 Photography ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 3.4 ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.5 ETHICS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 24 3.6 FIELDWORK REFLECTION .............................................................................................................................................. 25 4. NEPALESE CONTEXT ....................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND – DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL & 2015 CONSTITUTION .................................................. 28 4.2 SOCIAL STRUCTURES: CASTES, ETHNICITIES AND RELIGIONS ................................................................................ 30 4.3 SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONTEXT ......................................................................................................................................... 32 4.4 GENDER ISSUES ............................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.5 2015 NEPAL EARTHQUAKE ......................................................................................................................................... 34 4.6 EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE ............................................................................................................................................... 34 4.7 GENDER ISSUES AND INEQUALITIES IN POST-EARTHQUAKE NEPAL ...................................................................... 36 5. GENDER RELATIONS AS PERCEIVED BY WOMEN ................................................................................. 38 5.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................... 39 5.2 CASTE RELATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 5.3 WOMEN & MEN RELATIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 41 5.3.1 Role division at home ............................................................................................................................................... 42 5.3.2 Marriage......................................................................................................................................................................... 43 5.3.3 Period ............................................................................................................................................................................... 45 5.3.4 Safety ..............................................................................................................................................................................
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