Men's overseas migration and women's mobility and decision-making in rural Nepalese families

Abstract

This research investigates the ability of women,after the temporary overseas migration of their husbands,to define their priorities and act upon them within household and community spaces in the multi-cultural environment of two distinct geographical locations of Nepal - in the hills and the plains. Based on surveys and in-depth interviews with the women, semi-structured discussions with their neighbours, and a series of observations, this study examines the convertibility of men's migration into the agency of women, in response to the research question - what are the changes in women's abilities to set priorities and act upon them when their husbands migrate and leave them behind? Specifically: a) How do women negotiate decision-making with their husbands when they are working abroad?; b) How do women manage their mobility and community participation in a society where they are constrained by stringent social norms and practices?; and c) How do women's social position and identity change over the period of the men's absence?

This research argues that the migration of husbands has not made women dependent, but instead has created the scope to access decision-making processes, financial and non-financial resources, social networks, and information about services, which have collectively enriched women's ability, identity, and agency, despite having to perform some roles which contradict the prevailing social values and practices. The women have increasingly managed their resources and negotiated at different levels according to the length of their husband's migration. Therefore, the temporary separation of husbands and wives in the patriarchal Nepalese villages has been beneficial to the women, enhancing their negotiation and bargaining power, and their ability to challenge the patriarchal institutions as capable agents.

In addition, this research argues that the women increased their voice in decision-making when they gained access to information through networking and exposure. The linking capital of women connected them to political decision-making and financial resources, and enhanced their capacity to leverage resources, and information from formal institutions. These social networks are the symbolic power which has offered women a legitimate base for their social position. Thus, while agency has built social capital, social capital has become the means to enhancing the agency of individuals, resulting in a virtuous cycle of change. Therefore, this research establishes exposure and information as two of the major elements in increasing the bargaining power of Nepalese women in trans-national families. However, these women perform their roles despite several restrictions and challenges.

With these factors taken into consideration, this research recommends a number of areas that require further understanding. The question of women's agency and decision-making scope after men return from their migration in patriarchal societies is one. Similarly, the experiences that migrant women bring to the community, and the pressures they face in a patriarchal society, help to understand the experiences of the returned migrant women. Finally, an analysis of the differences between women, their capacities and social networking, despite having similar external environments, would help to identify the stimuli for individual behaviours.