Examination of Gender Roles in the Socioeconomic Development in Nepal - what do we know?

The study examines the relationship between women's role and socioeconomic and demographic changes that is taking place in Nepal during conflict and post conflict periods. It is done in the interest of describing the contours of current knowledge and frontiers of new research which suggests that rethinking existing theories and underlying assumptions is crucial. Although there has been much research on women's participation in socioeconomic development suggesting gender inclusion as critical to mainstreaming the development process, there is less work/research showing the links between roles played by women as compared to men at the HH and macro levels of development outcomes. Much of the research, used as evidence of the importance of women's role to socio-demographic and economic development, is based on weak design and measurement tools. We know little about the effects of women's work performed at HH level on macro level outcomes. This study shows the significant links between HH level work effort made by women and men on the macro outcomes. It has important implications for improving key indicators for sustainable human and socioeconomic development that enhance and advance gender equality.