September 15, 2021
A Grassroots Approach
The term “positive deviance” in gender is used to describe a situation when male and female members of a family work together on decision making, health, and educational opportunities for girls and women. In these environments, household chores and childcare is shared between both genders. Thus, positive deviance refers to a few adequately non-discriminated women and girls when most women and girls living in the same community are discriminated against.
Through group discussion, it is possible to identify such positively deviant families in the community so that other, more traditional families can learn from the experiences of the former to change their attitudes and behavior. By devising an innovative program, we shared our experience for the NGOs and INGOs who work in the gender field.
Research
More than half of the population in Nepal is made up of women, but their voices are not recognized and their roles are valueless due to the social setting. Their situations also differ from one ethnic or caste group to another. Positive deviance gender research helps us learn from women who are playing active roles in their families as well as from families whose male members take care of the children and help in the household chores.
Rautahat District
Case Study
A case study was completed in different VDCs of Rautahat District in Province 2. Discussions were held with 4 groups.
We discussed the ideals of a model family. They described it as understanding, neat and clean, an environment where everyone works together, the men and boys
support household chores, and there is no discrimination between girls and boys.
After discussing this model family, we talked about problems faced by women. They expressed issues such as husbands never sharing what they did out of the home,
and they explained there is a high degree of discrimination between boys and girls.