Life satisfaction of youngest daughters in West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya

Balarishisha LyngdohNovember 18, 2020

ABSTRACT This study explored the Life Satisfaction of the youngest daughters in West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya. It explored the different experiences encountered by the youngest daughters and the factors that contributed to their different experiences. This study comprised of 30 respondents from age 21 to 60 years. In-depth Interview is used. Findings indicated that most of the youngest daughters are happy and find it helpful for them in their daily life, however some of the individuals faced hard-time experiences with the responsibilities they have to take. The factor led to hard time experiences is because of financial problems and not receiving enough support from the family and for those who are content, it was because their family members are willing to help.

According to the data as per provisional census (2012), in West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya, there are 11 (eleven) districts in which one of the districts is popularly  known as the ‘Jaintias’ or the ‘Pnars’ and there are other sub tribes like the ‘Wars’ the ‘Bhois’(Karbis), the Hadem of Saitsama area, the Biates of Saipung and the Hmars of Khaddum Village. 

Pnar dialect is spoken across the entire district and it serves as a common dialect in communication with the other sub-tribes. West Jaintia Hills District is headquartered at Jowai which is the district’s main town. All the important government offices, hospitals, institutions and banks are in Jowai. The total area of the districts is 1693 Sq. kms. The district has a total population of 2, 70,352, of which 1, 34,406 are males and 1, 35,946 females and the density of population is 159.69 per sq.km. Coal mining is one of the main occupations of the people in Jaintia Hills. 

Women in Indian society
India is one of the countries where female population is less than the proportion of male population. Women have been about half of the population of the country, but their situation has been unpleasant. For centuries, they have been deliberately denied the opportunities for growth in the name of religion and socio-cultural practices. At the social-political plain, women are not getting freedom in their own homes, repression and unnatural indoctrination, an unequal and inferior status, rigid caste hierarchy and even untouchability. Religious traditions and social institutions have deep bearing on the role and status of women. In Indian society, men are more powerful than women and it was women who are victims of male domination in the respective spheres of life, especially in economic life, over decision making on resources, on the utilization of her earnings and her body (Nirola, 2017).

In the past years, women are treated as individuals who need to hold responsibilities only at home, they are basically in charge of the domestic life; they are in charge in taking care of every individual at home and have to follow the rules and regulations according to the demands of their husband. Women did not get any opportunity to be educated as compared to men. They are considered to be undeserving of achieving things as men, as days pass by, the developing world somehow has given women different opportunities to develop themselves and step out of their houses to gain knowledge and get self-empowerment. Hence, as things emerged, society and men change their point of view and started viewing women differently and that they are as equal as men. Families also became broad-minded and started understanding women differently and provide them with opportunities to live their life better and not on the pressured dominance of men. Women are also known to be multitasking people in these present days because women work both inside and outside of the house, they manage all the household works at home, they take care of their children and everyone at home and also manage to give their best at what they do be it inside or outside of the house. Though cases about women harassment still exist but that has been improved in many areas and also the government has provided many opportunities for women where they can be improved and helped them be better in their daily lives compare to the past years where they held no status and did not have any rights (Desk, 2020).

Role of women in Meghalaya
In Meghalaya, women have certain opportunity and freedom compared to the other countries and women get all the opportunities to be an educated person and to get the chance to participate in making decisions in the family as well as taking part in many organizations, to be involved in the society and get recognized and they are treated equally. Women in Meghalaya do have many responsibilities at home like taking care of everyone at home, doing all the household works but they also managed to involved in many things in the society as well as in their work place (Wahalng, 2015).A study done by Gupta, Choudhury and Das (2013) on discrimination against women in a matrilineal society and the main purpose of this study is to unravel the veracity of the belief that women are not discriminated against in the Khasi society. The study found out that discrimination against women is an inappropriate reality among the Khasi community of Meghalaya. The Composite Gender Index that was constructed indicates that the intensity of discrimination was greater in health and decision making as compared to the other parameters considered in the study. Though women in Meghalaya enjoyed a special place in their society but there is some part where they did not have rights or position like political system and ‘Dorbar’ which means a meeting in the society or village, which is meant only for men (Kharbhih).

Development of women in Meghalaya
As the world develops, women in Meghalaya also seems to be developed every year, though they still practice their traditional systems but women have improved in many parts of the society, they started being involve in political positions, some women earned economically more than men, there are many women who become the head of the family (Kumar & Nath, 2007). According to Meghalaya human development report (2008), it was found that women in Meghalaya are in better place and women have rights in many aspects in which women lives with full of respect and honour in the society, they are treated equally at home, work place, society, classroom or colleges etc.  A study done by Das and Bezbaruah (2011) was to understand the changes that has taken place in over a period of time among the Khasis in Meghalaya and also its relevance to enquire about the direction to which position and status of women are moving with the development of the society.  The result was found that the status of women in these societies were improved based on education, income of the female the gap between male, reduction of poverty, termination of physical violence on womenfolk for comprehensive development and progress of the whole societies.

There are certain tribes in Meghalaya with some uniqueness and peculiarities in terms of social and culture values. The Jaintias are one of the unique societies and cultures; the original residents of Jaintia Hills were known as Syntengs and later become Jaintias. It is in the most eastern part of Meghalaya with a unique tradition and cultural diversity. One of their uniqueness is the practice of matrilineal system where they have a traditional marriage that is very distinctive called the ‘night visit marriage system’ (NVS). In this marital ceremony, the husband comes to his wife’s house after dusk and leaves for his mother’s house before dawn and maintains this practice (Chakrabarty & Choudhury, 1996). However, in this matrilineal succession, women inherited tittles and names from their mothers, and pass them on to their daughters (Lewis, 2018). Their family consists of a woman, her brother or uncle, and their children, that is, her sons and daughters who are the man’s nephews and nieces (Kharkrang, 2012). In Matrilineal system, the uncle played a huge role in his family even when he got married and stayed with his family because the uncle becomes the cultural father to his family till his death, the responsibility and function in the family will be in the hands of uncle but not in the biological father (Kharkrang, 2012).  According to Meghalaya human development report (2008) it was found that, in a matrilineal society woman have the rights on their children, they have rights on their property and for men they have rights on the property of their sister and niece. For traditional rights and for traditional practice on any ceremonies will be in the hands of the biological men of the family and also taken charge of by them.

Women role in Jaintia
Jaintia society also practice matrilineal systems where the children takes after the surname of the mother and women and in Jaintia women are known as to be a power of force because she played a huge role in supporting her children based on everything about their needs. In Jaintia, most of the educated people are women and there seem to be many of them in schools or colleges compared to boys and the reason could be girls will be at home and boys will have to move out of the house when they grow up (Kharbhih). The Jaintia women are known to be hard working, they contribute in many aspects to the family profits by engaging themselves in different economic activities as well as helping in agriculture trade and most of the women Jaintia are strong physically, mentally and emotionally. In Jaintia society, a high respect for women is accorded, at home women take care of the nursing and rearing of the children, supervision of the domestic activities, attending to the sick aged parents and other relatives in distress, all this is considered to be the duties of the youngest daughter. Though women enjoyed a higher distinct status but yet restrictions were enforced especially in political affairs (Passah & Sarma, 2002). At present, many women are also involved in political affairs and be leaders where many changes and development are taking place. There are also many associations that were formed by women, where they provided help for women in certain areas especially in making them feel powerful, safe and secure in the society. 

Role of youngest daughter in Khasi and Jaintia
Khasi and Jaintia are very well known on their unique matrilineal system where the children use their mother’s surname, Khasi and Jaintia women have a strong position where they have equal rights in the society. In Khasi and Jaintia, the property of their parents is inherited by the youngest daughter who is known as ‘KaKhatduh’. The youngest daughter is weighed down with the responsibility to look after her parents and the entire elderly individuals in the family by providing them their needs and care (Bhaumik, 2013). The youngest daughters played a huge role in Khasi or Jaintia culture and one of the aspects of Khasi or Jaintia matrilineal society that has been most misunderstood, exploited and difficult to understand was “Kakhatduh” (youngest daughter) should be made custodian of the family property and religion of the family identity. The position and status of Kakhatduh is that she is the only custodian of the property, propitiate the family ancestors, however, the management but the decision making will be entirely in the hands of her uncles or her brothers (Kharkrang, 2012). According to the studies of Wahalng (2015) also stated that the traditional inheritance of property will be to the youngest daughter and the practice continue till date which everything about the property will be taken responsibility by the youngest daughter while for other daughters will be given according to the wish of their parents or their youngest sister as a gift. Many questions arise on why ‘KaKhatduh’ youngest daughter the only one who is responsible for the property and not on the other daughters of the family although inheritance can also be according to the will of the parents, but going with the traditional belief, it is a belief that the youngest daughter will live longer and the last person to be at home and she is responsible not only for the property but everything in the family (Kharkrang, 2012).

Differences in matrilineal and patriarchal
There are many differences in matrilineal and patriarchal system in which people played on their role but the main difference among these two systems were in matrilineal system children take the title of their mother and descent membership and siblings shared equal descent membership. Every responsibility is passed through the female and uncle and the uncle will passed through his sister’s son. The father of the family did not get authority that belongs to the descent family but the mother’s brother will get all the authority. Whereas in patriarchal system,all the authority and descent membership is passed through the males and everything will be passed on from the father of the family to the sons. In patriarchal system male become the leader and the head for the family (Barnard, 2020).

The study done by Gneezy, Leonard, & list (2009) tried to find out the gender differences in competition and the respondents were both from matrilineal and patriarchal societies. The goal of this study is to observea difference in competitiveness within men and women by using simple experimental task.It was found in the experimental task that they were matched with a participant from the other group who was performing the same task at the same time in another area.

The study done by Machimu and Minde (2010) investigated Rural Girl’s educational challenges in Tanzania particularly the matrilineal society (Luguru) where women hold very influential positions in terms of property rights influencing their daily life. Therefore, the study examined the influenced matrilineal system in girl’s education. The finding shows numbers of rural girls who are enrolled in secondary schools is increasing and at risk of drop out compared with the boys. Pregnancy, early marriage, also girls mostly engaged in domestic chores noted to be the contributing factors. The study finds out those women in Luguru society needing educated female students because women seem to have a strong authority in term of inheritance. 

In many aspects the world has been developed but Meghalaya is still in their strong roots of their practice in matrilineal system but with the advent of Christianity, urbanization and modernization, this system of marriage is losing its ground. The Jaintias refuse to accept that their societies are truly matriarchal. Though descent is reckoned through the female line, yet man is the head of the family but there are some families where the ‘kni’ Uncle lost the authority and responsibility that he used to have from his family, regular visiting to his family place started vanishing. Men started working and earned for their wives and not for their biological families anymore, the original faith and the traditional practices started to fade away as Christianity takes place. According to Kharkrang, he stated that Jaintia people have more preserved in the customs compared to Khasi people and property is inherited from the mother to the youngest daughter and the youngest daughter has to take the responsibility in the family and women are energetic and hard- working people till date (Kharkrang,2012). 

Advent of Christianity brought a change and transformation in many areas of people beliefs and practices towards their living. People started having new belief systems and faith and it breaks the unity in many aspects but the advent of Christianity also help people improved their way of living and people improved in education and have more knowledge on their living. Although many people believed on the change of Christianity where people started living a new life and updated themselves in many areas but there are still some people who they called ‘Niemtre or Niem-Khasi’ who has a strong believed and practice in their traditional way of living. 

Life Satisfaction
Life satisfaction is a multidimensional concept related to psychological and environmental life condition. Life satisfaction in general applied to the pleasure that an individual gets from his/her life. It is measurement of well-being assessed in terms of mood, satisfaction with relationship, achieved goals, self-concept, and self-perceived ability to cope with one’s daily life. (Telman and Unsal, 2004).

An assessment done by Jan and Masood (2017) on life satisfaction among women in Jammu and Kashmir and this study was to evaluate life satisfaction among women and to find out the influence of socio-personal characteristics of women with their life satisfaction. The results found that women have average level of life satisfaction at all age levels. It is also found that with an increase in age, life satisfaction of the women decreases, and with an increase in personal income, the life satisfaction of the women increases.

A study done by Desai and Thakar (2016) on Depression and life satisfaction among women with reference to expulsion by the family and this study aim at finding out the impact of depression on life satisfaction of women expelled by the family and it revealed that depression had significant impact on life satisfaction among women in general. Less depressed women reported higher level of life satisfaction than moderately and highly depressed women. 

Problem Statement
The position and status of “Kakhatduh” (youngest daughter) is that she is the only custodian of the property and it is believing that a person who lives long in the family has to manage the family but control of decision-making is in the hands of the uncles or her brothers (Kharkrang, 2012). 

Therefore “KaKhatduh” (youngest daughter) has so many responsibilities because she has to take care of everyone in the family; property according to the command of elderly people and also, she has to manage with her personal work. So, the study wants to explore the life satisfaction of youngest daughters and the different experiences they encountered along with the factors that contribute to their different experiences. 

Significance Of The Study
The findings will help us understand the life satisfaction of the youngest daughters in West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya. It will also give an understanding of the different experiences that the youngest daughters encountered and the factors that contribute to their different experiences. This will also add to the germane on the indigenous concept of West Jaintia culture.

Not much research has been done on this topic in West Jaintia, Meghalaya, so the researcher conducted a study on this topic to get a clearer idea on the life satisfaction and the different experiences the youngest daughters come across and the factors that contribute to their experiences. The researcher also hopes that it will help the future researchers who wish to pursue this topic in detail.

Click the link below to read full research paper:
https://ijip.in/articles/life-satisfaction-of-youngest-daughters-in-west-jaintia-hills-district-meghalaya/
https://ijip.in/pdf-viewer/?id=28494