Women Empowerment in a Rural Matrilineal Society of Meghalaya, India

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether rural women are empowered in a matrilineal society in India. In a state where traditional institutions function on the basis of local customs and conventions that are not codified and yet religiously followed, it is questionable to whether the women are essentially empowered. In such a scenario, one wonders if owning land is enough to empower a woman. The objective of this study is to check if whether land ownership empowers a woman and if it gives her decision-making power in the household. The study was conducted at one village from each of the two districts in Meghalaya- the East Khasi Hills and the West Khasi Hills. Fifty female respondents from each district were made to answer a structured questionnaire, after which four respondents had to be eliminated, as they were unmarried and eighteen respondents had to be dropped as they were either a widow or separated. Probit regression was then used to analyze the data. The results stated that women who inherited land were more likely to have a savings account and be a part of a socio-economic group. From this it can be concluded, that women who owned land through lineage were empowered, however the fact that they still consider their husbands to be the head of the family, makes us consider that there may be a psychological component to it.

Socioeconomic Disparity and Poverty Profiles in Oil Producing Rural Areas in Nigeria

“…This result corroborates the report by the Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs as published by Daily Post of July, 13 2013 (Pwanagba, 2013), and the report that poverty is prevalent in the rural areas with women being the worse hit and among the vulnerable groups to its consequences (Iyela & Ikwuakam, 2015). The finding also relates to the study by Keeni et al (2018), and suggests that in addition to other measures, the rural people can also volunteer to organize themselves into cooperative groups for eradication of poverty.…”

Risk Preference, Gender, Responsibility: A Cross-Cultural Study from India

“…Despite playing critical roles in various socioeconomic aspects of the family, women are excluded from participating in political decision-making (Keeni et al, 2018;Pakyntein, 2000). For example, in Khasi villages, autonomous village councils or dorbarshnongs traditionally govern their social life by managing village affairs and natural resources.…”

“…However, these councils are predominantly led by men, and women are excluded from participation. Only matrilineal men represent families in council meetings, while the headmen of each village council participate in the State Council, Dorbarhima (Keeni et al, 2018; Nongkynrih, 2002). Furthermore, women are not allowed to engage in legislative, administrative, or judicial processes.…”