CHANGING GENDER ROLES IN AGRICULTURE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF HUNZA AND SUBURBAN AREAS OF LAHORE

Abstract

The current study is a comparative analysis with an aim to explore the changing gender roles in the agricultural practices of Lahore and Hunza. The qualitative study design was used to conduct the study. Participants from Hunza and Suburban areas of Lahore were taken for the current research because Hunza is a far-off, less developed area where women are mainly responsible for agriculture and Lahore is a cosmopolitan city with all technological facilities. 12 participants, who were actively engaged with agriculture, with an equal number of men and women were taken from both geographical locations through purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview protocol was prepared keeping in view literature and personal observations, which consisted of 16 open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was the data analysis method. 7 major themes were extracted through analysis namely, Various agricultural tasks and gender roles, decision-making, marketing of crops and financial independence, Cultural Restrictions for Female Farmers, Challenges in Agricultural Activities, Technology and agriculture, and Gender-Oriented Agricultural programs. It was found that females from Hunza made independent decisions regarding crop selection, and new varieties of seed selection but females from suburban areas of Lahore did not find to be engaged at this level. Unlike the females from Lahore, Hunza women sold vegetables in their indigenous markets and had control over their income. Due to cultural restrictions, females from Lahore did not participate in different agricultural programs. Females and males from Hunza participated in agricultural programs due to their availability of time and desire. This research is a valuable contribution to fill in the existing gaps in the literature review and comparing the different roles males and females play in different agricultural activities in both geographical locations and the novel findings related to decision making etc.