Age at marriage, social norms, and female education in Nepal

Jafarey, Saqib; Mainali, R. M.; Montes‐Rojas, Gabriel

doi:10.1111/rode.12692

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Increases in girls' educational attainment may contribute to shifts in social norms (Ghimire & Samuels, 2014;Jafarey et al, 2020), as might the migration of men for work, exposing them to other cultures and values (Adhikari & Sharma, 2022;Shattuck et al, 2019). However, some factors such as economic/ market-based opportunities are unlikely to be relevant, as in the society of our study, women are largely confined to the home, and opportunities for work are very limited (Gram et al, 2017).…”

Section: Social and Legal Normsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Generational trends in the transition to womanhood in lowland rural Nepal: Changes in the meaning of early marriage

Marphatia,

Busert‐Sebela,

Manandhar

et al. 2024

American J Hum Biol

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ObjectiveIn South Asia, studies show secular trends toward slightly later women's marriage and first reproduction. However, data on related biological and social events, such as menarche and age of coresidence with husband, are often missing from these analyses. We assessed generational trends in key life events marking the transition to womanhood in rural lowland Nepal.MethodsWe used data on 110 co‐resident mother‐in‐law (MIL) and daughter‐in‐law (DIL) dyads. We used paired t‐tests and chi‐squared tests to evaluate generational trends in women's education, and mean age at menarche, marriage, cohabitation with husband, and first reproduction of MIL and DIL dyads. We examined norms held by MILs and DILs on a daughter's life opportunities.ResultsOn average, MIL was 29 years older than DIL (60 years vs. 31 years). Both groups experienced menarche at average age 13.8 years. MIL was married at average 12.4 years, before menarche, and cohabitated with husbands at average 14.8 years. DIL was simultaneously married and cohabitated with husbands after menarche, at average 15 years. DIL was marginally more educated than MIL but had their first child on average 0.8 years earlier (95% CI −1.4, −0.1). MIL and DIL held similar norms on daughters' education and marriage.ConclusionWhile social norms remain similar, the meaning of “early marriage” and use of menarche in marriage decisions has changed in rural lowland Nepal. Compared to DIL, MIL who was married earlier transitioned to womanhood more gradually. However, DIL was still married young, and had an accelerated trajectory to childbearing.

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Section: Social and Legal Normsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Generational trends in the transition to womanhood in lowland rural Nepal: Changes in the meaning of early marriage

Marphatia,

Busert‐Sebela,

Manandhar

et al. 2024

American J Hum Biol

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“…More than 60% of respondents were male and the majority of them (38.2%) were 31 to 40 years old. The average marriage age in Nepal is 20.7 years and the majority still prefer to live in joint families [74]. Fifty percent of the respondents had high school attendance whereas 2.7% had a master's degree.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Business and Livelihood: A Study of Pashupatinath UNESCO Heritage Site of Nepal

et al. 2022

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Small businesses in world heritage sites provide services to visitors and livelihood for residents. Besides the cultural and religious values promoted by these businesses, they also provide socioeconomic support to their owners. The Pashupatinath temple is known as Hindu’s major religious and pilgrimage destination in South Asia. Hundreds of businesses around the temple provide services to visitors. This study evaluates the socioeconomic impacts of these small businesses around Pashupatinath temple. Using a survey of 110 businesses, binary logistic regression models find that the owners of larger businesses selling religious supplies in this area are more likely to own houses in Kathmandu and to be more satisfied with their businesses. The study also finds that businesses without permanent stalls faced severe hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the socioeconomic status of a business owner through house ownership in Kathmandu, and finds that small businesses operating in the premises of the religious heritage site of Pashupatinath temple have a positive relation to the livelihood of the business owners and their families. It concludes that small-scale business in world heritage sites directly contributes to local livelihoods and economies.

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