Women and Society in Nepal: A need for change
By: Aditi Dahal
An enchanted piece of land having the highest snow peak in the world and greatest ethnic, culture, and topographical diversity within a very small area is how I would describe my country. I love my country.
Nothing however, is perfect in this world. Nepal is no exception. It too has a dark spot, and that dark spot is the neglect and disregard in which women are held in our country.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics Census report-2001, Women constitute more than half the population of Nepal. However, despite their majority, women remain discriminated at the hands of the less populous males.
A culturally diverse country, the position and status of women vary in different communities across Nepal, each with its unique religion and cultural practices.
In Nepal, discrimination of female has been there from time immorable. There is a saying in Nepal, ?Let it be late but let it be a Son?.
In Nepalese society, until recently, the birth of a son was celebrated by offering a goat to the Gods, but if a daughter was born, the masses grieved by chopping pumpkins.
A son is considered essential for the social security of the family. And a son is also considered essential for the succession of the family tree.
It is seen that girls have less access to education than boys do. Education for women is a pre-requisite for their up-liftment.
But in Nepal, education for females is not very important. The females are regarded as a liability. In this 21st century, in rural parts of Nepal, the females should know how to cook and does the house hold activities instead of reading and writing.
In the villages of Nepal it is said that the females have to get married and go to other people?s house and look after the house hold activities, so what is the use of educating a girl?
Even if a girl attends school, there is a high drop out rate in the secondary level because a girl has to leave her education and look after the house, cook and look after their siblings.
The difference of female and male are seen as soon as they are born. There is a difference between upbringing of a daughter and a son. A son is looked after and brought up carefully where as a daughter is neglected and dragged up without proper care.
When a son is born the status of the mother is also increases, while parents consider girls to be a liability they regard that a boy is their stick for their old age, and for the social security.
In most of the Nepalese society, a girl is relegated to the role of house keeping and childcare. The girl does not contribute anything much to the economic status of the family.
The female child is given necessary orientation as required necessary orientation as required for the changing roles in her life. A girl has to perform different roles in her life. A role of a daughter, wife, mother, and daughter-in-law.
The role of women is challenging and difficult, as she has to adjust her self to a completely strange and unfamiliar environment in a new family.
I consider illiteracy to be one of the main reasons why women are confined to the house hold and are portrayed mainly as a recreational object, but never as a human being with a separate and independent identify and entitled to the same freedom, dignity and consideration as men.
There is a saying that however long and dark the night may be it is sure to come to an end and give way to the light of the day. With this optimism, I along with other women of Nepal are struggling to make a place for ourselves in the society. |
