Author: Vineeta Thapa
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.GD-06-21
Year: 2006
Academic Program: Gender and Development Studies (GDS)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2006
Examination Committee: Bernadette P. Resurreccion (Chairperson); Barbara Earth, Edsel E. Sajor (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: This study examines how gender roles arc reproduced, produced and transformed in the context of Nepalese Hindus of Pashupati area (Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 8). With the changes in the ritual performances due to the pollution of Holy River Bagmati there emerges the change in gender roles. The causes and impacts of pollution, importance of water and culture in Hindu religion along with women’s agency that enable and hinder change are discovered and discussed. Historically, the primary livelihood of the people there was the temple itself passed down from generation to generation. Further, the denizens of that area being isolated from the mass population in the valley had less opportunity mainly in terms of other occupations. Moreover, formal educational background of the old generation people was rare. In addition, the country itself was not at all influenced by the modern influences and development as it was not exposed to the outside world. Thus, most of the older people were confined to their traditional occupation. As a result, the old generation women as prescribed by Hindu culture and the society accepted their expected roles without any resistance. In this way, they reproduced the traditional gender roles. However, there were significant changes in gender roles to women’s advantage with the change in the environment such as education, modern influences, development, urbanization, exposure to the outer world, etc. that facilitated an atmosphere for production of gender roles. Further, the importance of time value also influenced the changes. Modern changes were not enough for the younger generation to exercise their agency against the orthodox religious rituals. Eventually, due to the onslaught of rapid pollution in Holy River Bagmati, people were forced to change their old ritual styles according to the circumstances. This initial change in ritual performances acted as a successful tool enabling women to take advantage of the change making them renegotiate their gender roles by resisting again
Scholarship Donor(s): Government of Austria
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
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