世界银行-尼泊尔妇女劳动力参与：社会规范作用探析（英）-2024.6-68页_1mb

Women's Labor Force Participation in Nepal: An Exploration of The Role of Social Norms

Key Findings

Overall Female Labor Participation: Female labor force participation in Nepal remains low at 26.3% compared to 53.8% for men, despite growing educational attainment among women.

SOCIAL NORMS' IMPACT:

• Contradiction between attitudes and actions: Most Nepalis support women working outside the home, but actual female labor force participation remains low
• Traditional roles dominate discussions: Conservative beliefs are strongest around gender roles within households (women as primary caregivers vs men as sole financial providers)
• Lingering discriminatory practices: Despite education gains, women face workplace safety concerns, limited mobility freedom, and restrictive expectations about appropriate jobs
• Reference group analysis: Household members are the most influential voices in employment decisions for married women

PERSONAL BELIEFS' ROLE:

• Women's own beliefs about gender roles significantly influence their labor market decisions
• Support for women's employment varies substantially by ethnicity and migration status

POLICY IMPLICATIONS:

• Address structural barriers like childcare access and work flexibility
• Challenge restrictive social norms around female employment, particularly concerning household responsibilities
• Recognize that policies must account for ethnic diversity and rural-urban variations

Research Methodology

*1,977 surveyed households across 4 provinces
*Combined qualitative and quantitative approaches including vignettes
*Modeled beliefs/expectations alongside rational economic/educational factors
*Explored heterogeneity by ethnicity (Madhesi/dominant groups), location, and household composition