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Gender differences in gross national happiness: Analysis of the first nationwide wellbeing survey in Bhutan

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  • Verma, Ritu
  • Ura, Karma

Abstract

At a moment when market-oriented, techno-centric and consumption-led approaches prevail in response to otherwise complex socio-cultural and political-economic realities, innovative concepts from Bhutan present an alternative bearing onequitable, sustainable and holistic development. Elaborated in the 1970 s by the 4thKing of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, GNH is encoded in Bhutan’s constitution, the driving philosophy of its development process, and is gaining momentum as an alternative development approach globally. While GNH has been studied from various angles, the survey findings have not been analyzed from a gender perspective. Recognizing this as a critical gap, this study seeks to better understand gender differences in Bhutan. It does so through the disaggregation and analysis of the first GNH nationwide survey data, domains and indicators by gender, triangulation of the findingsagainst secondary literature, andcontextualization within contemporary debates about gender in the context of development. Such an exercise is critical, given the disconnects that exist between perceptions of gender ‘neutrality’ and ‘equality’ based on women’s relatively strong position in certain areas, and the GNH data, which demonstrates gender differences in wellbeing in Bhutan. Our study finds that overall men are happier than women. Men fair better in GNH domains such as education, psychological wellbeing, time use, governance, community vitality, whereas women do better in the domains of living standards and ecological diversity and resilience. Several gender barriers exists, including social stigmas and attitudes that disadvantage women in terms of political participation, decision-making and status. Such an analysis is timely, given the Royal Government of Bhutan’s efforts to pro-actively address gender issues that crosscut the GNH domains and shape gender relations, culture and society. The study reflects on Bhutan as a unique context for the study of gender and development, and highlights novel contributions that advance the field of development by studying GNH from a gender lens, and vice versa.

Suggested Citation

  • Verma, Ritu & Ura, Karma, 2022. "Gender differences in gross national happiness: Analysis of the first nationwide wellbeing survey in Bhutan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:150:y:2022:i:c:s0305750x21003296
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105714
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carol Graham & Soumya Chattopadhyay, 2013. "Gender and well-being around the world," International Journal of Happiness and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 1(2), pages 212-232.
    2. Moser, Caroline O. N., 1989. "Gender planning in the third world: Meeting practical and strategic gender needs," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 17(11), pages 1799-1825, November.
    3. Jeremy S. Brooks, 2013. "Avoiding the Limits to Growth: Gross National Happiness in Bhutan as a Model for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Gerhard Meisenberg & Michael Woodley, 2015. "Gender Differences in Subjective Well-Being and Their Relationships with Gender Equality," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1539-1555, December.
    5. Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2014. "Bhutan: Gender Equality Diagnostic of Selected Sectors," ADB Reports RPS135513, Asian Development Bank (ADB), revised 29 Aug 2014.
    6. Veenhoven, R., 2012. "Social Development and Happiness in Nations," ISD Working Paper Series 2012-03, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
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