Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F (2025)

Gender roles are defined traditionally in rural areas. The tasks of agricultural activities and primary decision-making authority were allotted to men, while women were responsible for looking after the elderly and children and household tasks. This separation of work is responsible for unequal access to various opportunities for women. Patriarchy in rural households constrains the roles of women. Which results in their dependency on men for decision-making. The roles of genders within families are changing due to the changing family structure. The objective of this paper is to examine the changing gender relations in rural communities based on both primary and secondary sources. It identifies the factors responsible for these changes and understands their effects on decision-making authority and family cohesion. 100 respondents were selected on the basis of purposive samling in Ranchhar village of Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The results indicate that a gender roles and primary decision making authority is changing in selected village. Most of the decisions in nuclear families are taken jointly by both men and women. In joint families, decision-making authority still rests with the male head, but the influence of the head's wife on household decision-making. Another factor patriarchy is supported by rural women, as household chores and caregiving are considered their primary responsibilities. However, women below the age of 30 were against this view and they believe in gender equality.