Understanding resistance and compliance among women in a high caste Brahmin-Chettri community in Nepal | |
| Author | Saakha, Prasuna |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-08-11 |
| Subject(s) | Hindu women--Nepal Hindu women--Kinship--Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-08-11 |
| Abstract | Gender relations are culturally and socially constructed and shaped and influenced by the larger structures that provide rules and resources to govern our behavior. Most studies on gender relation focus on relation between women and men and the resulting inequalities. However Gender relation also involves relation among women as they are part of the patriarchal structure. Among the gendered nature of relation among women, relation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is particularly strained in most patriarchal families in South Asia. A mother-in-law more often as cultural custodian redefines the norms for their daughters-in-law constraining their agency and life choices. A role of elder women as cultural custodian is especially marked among the High caste Hindu communities. This study focuses on the understanding resistance and compliance among the women in the high caste Brahmin Chettri community in Nepal The study examines how the relation among the women, Mothers-in-law and Daughers-in-law and former as the custodian of the Hindu gendered norms redefines the expected pattern of behavior constraining the agency of the latter. The study particularly focuses on the agency of the daughters-in-law that involves the complexities of resistance and compliance as they try to accommodate within the gendered social order. The study used an ethnographic technique to draws out the life histories of the daughters-in-law focusing on various episodes relating to household resource access and control, mobility and life trajectories. These episodes help us to understand the constraints of gendered norms on Daughters-in-law are pervasive. Findings reveal that women as daughters-in-law experiences constraints in mobility, resource access and control and decision making regarding resources within a household. In areas of mobility, personal property brought in marriage, personal earning and life choices daughters-in-law use complex strategies of both compliance and resistance to cope with the gendered norms. While in areas of household resource access and control and decision making they are more complaint to patriarchal norms. They are unable to influence institutionally and customarily determined control over resources, that considers household resources as prerogatives of men and elder women (mother-in-law) to some extent. Women’s absurd status as daughter-in-law infringes upon their rightful access and control over these resources. The study by showing the gendered dimension of relation among women highlights that while resistances to gendered norms are present, women’s compliance to these norms also arises as a strategy and not mere submission to patriarchal authority. Women also tend to reinforce the gendered norms and notion due to their dependency on the gendered structure or moral order. |
| Year | 2008 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-08-11 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Doneys, Philippe;Sajor, Edsel E.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2008 |