ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how the notion of co-residence, headship and resource management of a household has been modified by the phenomenon of labour out-migration in Nepal. The concept of household is largely used in the studies of home economics, resource management, livelihood and family care. In general, a household is built upon family members or a combination of family and non-family members, which is originated from the institution of marriage. Traditionally, household is considered a co-residential unit, operated by a household head that takes care of day-to-day resource management and primary needs of its members. However, the notions of family-based, co-residence and management of resources by a functional household head are challenged by various living arrangements, livelihood opportunities and changing modes of production that are created by the phenomenon of labour out-migration in the recent times. Based on a survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions carried out in a village in eastern Nepal, the chapter argues that households are not restricted to the conventional boundary of living-together. Like resident members the non-resident members also have a great influence in household resource management and act as a household head from distance, which has modified the meaning of ‘house-hold’. We perhaps need to understand it as ‘modified-extended-household’ where a household acts as an arena of resident and non-resident members engaged in continuous interaction and communication for the wellbeing of its members.
The book is available at:
http://www.wageningenacademic.com/mansholt12
This chapter illustrates how the notion of co-residence, headship and resource management of a household has been modified by the phenomenon of labour out-migration in Nepal. The concept of household is largely used in the studies of home economics, resource management, livelihood and family care. In general, a household is built upon family members or a combination of family and non-family members, which is originated from the institution of marriage. Traditionally, household is considered a co-residential unit, operated by a household head that takes care of day-to-day resource management and primary needs of its members. However, the notions of family-based, co-residence and management of resources by a functional household head are challenged by various living arrangements, livelihood opportunities and changing modes of production that are created by the phenomenon of labour out-migration in the recent times. Based on a survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions carried out in a village in eastern Nepal, the chapter argues that households are not restricted to the conventional boundary of living-together. Like resident members the non-resident members also have a great influence in household resource management and act as a household head from distance, which has modified the meaning of ‘house-hold’. We perhaps need to understand it as ‘modified-extended-household’ where a household acts as an arena of resident and non-resident members engaged in continuous interaction and communication for the wellbeing of its members.
The book is available at:
http://www.wageningenacademic.com/mansholt12
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