Paper Details

Name: Jitendra Kumar
Country: India

Year: 2024
Volume: Volume-11, Issue-2 (July- December)
Page Number: 85-92

This study explores the complex relationship between migration and social change in Bihar, with a specific focus on shifting family structures and evolving gender roles. Bihar has witnessed large-scale outmigration, particularly of male members, to metropolitan cities in search of employment. This phenomenon has led to significant transformations within the socio-cultural fabric of rural communities. The research investigates how prolonged male absence has altered traditional family dynamics, increased the responsibilities of women, and reshaped gender relations. Through fieldwork conducted in select districts of Bihar, the study examines the experiences of women who are left behind to manage households, raise children, and engage in community affairs—often taking on roles traditionally reserved for men. The paper also assesses whether these changes have led to greater empowerment or reinforced existing patriarchal constraints. Using a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews and quantitative household data, this study contributes to the broader discourse on migration-induced social transformation in developing regions. The findings underscore the need for gender-sensitive policies that recognize the changing realities of rural households in migration-prone areas like Bihar.
Keywords-Migration, Development, Social Change, Gender Roles, Patriarchy