Beyond the Rhetoric: The Reality of Gender Inequality in Nepal

 

March invites us to pay attention to the accomplishments, sacrifices, insights and influences of the myriad women who have shaped the world we live in.

Nepal is a country where female energy is worshipped. Our ancestors prayed to the female gods for protection, abundance, nurturing and wisdom. We still do it. Yet in 2024, a woman has to work harder for the same pay or less. She has to seek approval from the men in her family to chase her dreams. She is made answerable for her decisions and choices. Her success is measured differently at the workplace, in society and at home.

From her body to her identity and dreams, she is made accountable for every single choice. Her work in the house and in the fields or in the family business is often unaccounted for. Even when she is better qualified for a job, she must prove why she deserves it.

Women in leadership positions have it even harder – their authority is questioned and challenged every step of the way. Leadership transitions are often more challenging for women, just acquiring new skills isn’t sufficient, her learning must be accompanied by a growing sense of identity as a leader.

The feminine energy Shakti. Laksmi. Saraswati. Durga. Kali. Bhawani – we pray to them in temples but women who are made in their mould are denied equality in varying forms even in the most educated and affluent homes.

When violence happens, we look for reasons as to why a woman must have provoked it. When an accident occurs, we immediately say, it must be a woman driving. When a woman walks into a boardroom, she is measured for the way she dresses or how she looks. Women are objectified in advertisements and films. Women success stories rarely make news headlines. It’s a boys club in the newsroom, in the bar, at the meeting, and at social gatherings.

We have fought for change for a very, very long time. And the world has changed. We have made technological progress and scientific advancements. Humans live longer and live better. But the primal mindset of domination still prevails. It is subject not just to our homes and to women. There is aggression in politics, leadership and governance. Last year, this time, I spoke about a man who had immolated himself in front of the parliament. Today, our news and social media feed is headlining the death of a 13-year-old girl in a boarding school. Her parents are begging for a fair inquisition. Justice is still far away. Soon people will lose interest. She will be another statistic to join Nirmala Pant, Bhagirathi Bhatta, Kopila Kami and the countless others who have been raped, abused, violated and forgotten.

Every speech by a politician champions equality, inclusivity and equity. But we lack accountability and integrity in action.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. There are days when I feel empty, angry and frustrated that we are still fighting the fight that my mother’s generation and the one before her was fighting biases against caste, colour, gender, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, religion, nationality.

And then there are months like March when we have the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge champions of change who are dismantling barriers. Bit by bit, breaking barriers that divide humanity. I also recognise now that achieving true diversity and inclusion is an ongoing journey, not a destination.

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