Women v. State: A Case Study of Laws and Rules’ Impact on Female Labor Migration within Nepal

• Main Author: Armstrong, Emily
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholarship @ Claremont 2017
• Subjects: Asian Studies; Economic Policy; Labor Economics; Other Legal Studies
• Online Access: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/914; http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1996&context=scripps_theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between gender and institutions within the context of Nepal’s labor migration. Labor migration is an important issue for Nepal’s economy as nearly 10% of the population works abroad (Sijapati, 2012). However, only 10% of these migrants are women, creating a gender imbalance. One reason for the large disparity between the number of female migrants and male migrants is explained by legal restraints and institutional factors. A potentially more potent reason for the lack of female migrants working abroad can be credited to gender roles and cultural values in Nepali society (Thieme, 2005). This thesis analyzes institutions’ role in labor migration and the relationship between institutions and female migrants.