"How Gender Affects Decision Making - A Case Study of Tibeto- Burmese Women in Kobang VDC, Mustang, Nepal" GITTA SHRESTHA THAPA Thesis Submitted in the partial fulfilment of requirements for the Master’s in Resources and Human Adaptations Department of Geography University of Bergen May, 2009 Abstract It is commonly presented in scientific literature that Tibeto-Burmese\Mountain women’s status is higher than Indo-Aryan\Terai women. Findings of many studies indicates that Tibeto-Burmese women are traditionally afforded more freedom of movement, independent decision-making, wield considerable power and authority. Therefore, this study is based on the assumption that if it is the case then women of Tibeto-Burmese group are actively involved in the decision making process both at household and communal level institutions. Focussed on Thakali women of Kobang VDC, the study explores their participation in the decision making institutions. Using feminist methodology of explanation through everyday experiences of women’s life, an attempt has been made to present the local perception and the rate of participation of women which is affected by social construction of gender. It is found that despite the wielding of relative power and freedom, women in Kobang VDC are weighed down by structural constrains based on gender and negative ideologies. They are subject to the same levels of gender inequity as lowland women, and thus, essentialise themselves on how they are to behave. This attitude, together with numerous other factors, is causing low negotiating power among women in the Kobang VDC. The limits on women’s everyday activities are structured by what society expects women to be. Concretely a main obstacle to decision making is the limit set by gendered daily working routines. The study emphasizes that moving beyond essentialism is important. It points towards bringing change in perception to change the structures and ideologies that keep one gender subordinate of other. It argues that merely bringing women to the decision making level doesn’t ensure their active input to the process. Therefore, women should be empowered in a holistic way so that women themselves become conscious to cross the boundary created by socially constructed gender ideology and negotiate in order to reduce the existing gender gap to make themselves free for participation in decision making level. Key Words: Tibeto-Burmese women, Decision Making, Gender, Social Construction, Feminism, Feminist Methodology. i Acknowledgements Any task is completed only with the help and support of number of people. I am grateful to many individuals and institutions, whose help, support, comments and guidance were invaluable. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my respondents as well as all the people in Kobang VDC who shared their views and experiences. I owe them for their invaluable time and hospitality. I would take this opportunity to convey my deepest gratitude to the teachers of Kobang VDC as well, for showing me around and helping me meet the right people. It was the support on the part of my supervisor Peter Anderson, UiB, who inspired me to broaden my horizon and for that he will always have my gratitude. I feel myself fortunate to be under his supervision; without him, all this would not have been possible. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for his guidance, support and positive comments and criticism. I am grateful to Prof .Tor H. Aase for his kind guidance and feedback during the initial phase of choosing the subject. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to Ragnhild Overå, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, UiB for her help with literatures as well as valuable suggestions. Similarly, I would like to thank my teachers Prof. Bhim Prasad Subedi and Kanahiya Sapkota back home in TU for their guidance. I am also grateful to my senior Keshav Dai for the location map and also for his help during my fieldwork and my study in Norway as well. Without scholarship I would not have to dare to continue my further studies abroad. I would like to thank State Education Loan Fund (Lånekassen), Department of Geography, UiB, Norway which generously financed my M. Phil study. It was a good opportunity to be at UiB in terms of learning and gaining new experiences. I would further like to acknowledge all friends at UiB and at Fantoft who supported me with their kind inspiring words in time of loneliness and desperation. I thank my friends in Pokhara and Mustang who have extended their love and help. I cherish our friendship. I thank all the people who have contributed their valuable time and support during the course of this study. ii Not to forget my family members and friends who have always been there for me, prayed for me and have been my source of inspiration. Thank you all for the support, love, care and best wishes. I thank Kedar and David uncle, for your love, time and efforts. Similarly, I would like to thank Even Normann for giving suggestions on my draft and I thank you all for your guidance, support and feedback. Once again, I thank you all for everything. Finally, I thank God for all the blessing. With gratitude, Gitta Shrestha Thapa UiB, Norway May, 2009 iii Abstract i Acknowledgements ii Contents iv List of Figures viii List of Tables viii List of Photos viii Abbreviations x Glossary xi Contents CHAPTER I ............................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 The Context ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem ............................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Objective and Research Questions ................................................................................... 8 1.4 Significance ...................................................................................................................... 8 1.5. Organisation .................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter II ................................................................................................................................. 11 Gender, Social construction and Feminism ............................................................................. 11 2.1 Social construction and knowledge ................................................................................ 11 2.1.1 Defining ‘Gender’ .................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2 The Social Construction and Gender ....................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Gender ideologies .................................................................................................... 14 2.1.4 Gender ideologies in Nepal ..................................................................................... 15 2.2 Defining ‘Feminism’ ...................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Geography and Feminism:....................................................................................... 19 2.2.2 Human Geography ................................................................................................... 19 iv 2.2.3 Geographical Feminism: .......................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER III .......................................................................................................................... 24 Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 24 3.1 Feminist methodology and epistemology ...................................................................... 24 3.2 My field work: ................................................................................................................ 27 3.2.1 First Phase: The start ............................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 Second Phase ........................................................................................................... 35 3.3 Experience as a woman researcher ................................................................................. 36 3.4 Ethical issues .................................................................................................................. 39 3.5 Validity and reflexivity .................................................................................................. 40 3.6 Interpretation .................................................................................................................. 42 3.7 Methods of data collection ............................................................................................. 44 3.7.1 Sampling .................................................................................................................. 44 3.7.2 Participant Observation ........................................................................................... 45 3.7.3 Key Informant Interview ......................................................................................... 45 3.7.4 Semi-Structured\ Open ended questionnaire ..........................................................