This thesis is based on two months of fieldwork in Melamchi, Nepal in 2014. The objective of
this study is to examine whether a “feminization of agriculture” has occurred in the study
area by investigating the local farming system and the gendered division of agricultural
labour and managerial responsibilities.
According to the household survey (n=54), a strong gendered division of agricultural tasks
exist in this area, thus men and women have clear responsibilities and restrictions. By the use
of various fieldwork methods it was discovered that women in some cases have to take on
tasks that are generally considered “men’s work”. Women are in charge of various
managerial decisions related to the agricultural production, but any major decisions are still
controlled by men. Decisions concerning how to spend the household income are made by
men alone in 67 % of the households. The real influence of women as decision-makers can
therefore be questioned. The influence of factors like education, caste and ethnicity and
access to financial services has also been discussed. I argue that a feminization of labour
does not ensure a strengthening of women’s position in the household, rather, if women get
more work and no influence in decision-making processes the “feminization of agriculture” is
just a form of exploitation.
An attempt has been made to explain how the authority of the decision-maker obtains
legitimacy in patriarchal households in Melamchi. In order to do this, Weber’s theory of
domination and the description of the ideal type traditional authority have been used.
According to informants, parampara (tradition) is the main reason why men legitimately
dominate decision-making processes. Therefore traditional authority is relevant in this case. I
argue that social structural like virilocality and patrilineality should be included in the
definition of traditional authority.
Ecofeminists argue that if women could choose freely, they would grow subsistence
cultivation with high biodiversity in order to feed their families and take care of nature. Even
though women were often found to be in charge of the cultivation of vegetables and
subsistence farming, this cannot be seen as a sign on their affection towards nature. Women
expressed a wish for more intensively driven production in order to increase the household’s
income, just like their male counterparts. I therefore argue that women are not more
concerned with the small-scale, subsistence farming, rather that they have been confined to it.