Our country, Nepal is popularly known as a traditional
nation. It gives more priority to its customs and traditions
rather than other subjects of matter. This country has been
ruled and operated by majority of men since the beginning of
humanity. Men play the vital role in each sector of
development. History of Nepal is the evidence that all the
development works are carried out by majority of men and less
women. Even though, there is equal importance of male and
female in development of nation, females are kept aside in
development as well as social matter.
In each and every sector, men play a main role and women
are in inferior position. The main cause of such vast differences
is the lack of education and public awareness. Such differences
start from the early period of males and females life. In point of
view of Nepalese people, females are regarded as a curse and
males as boon. They do not like bearing female baby as they
have to get her married and provide dowry. So, they take it as
burden. That’s why, when they bear a boy and a girl, they give
higher priority and more love to boy and the girl is kept within
the four walls of home. Thus, no matter how talented they are,
they never get a chance to develop.
The condition of women living in our country is really
miserable. Women living in our society are still under the
shadow of darkness. They are bounded by the traditional
concept of conservative society. They are busy mostly in
kitchen and household works. Though, women occupy more
population in Nepal, they have less participation in the high
level jobs and some other important matters related to their
life. They can experience very few legal rights and even our
society places them in an inferior position. This was often
justified as being the result of biological differences between
the sexes.
Women were thought to be more emotional and less
decisive than men. They are not given sufficient opportunities
to improve themselves and are discouraged to go ahead. No
matter whatever progress they make, they are still suppressed
by this traditional society. Moreover, they are somehow
experiencing basic rights, but they are deprived of social rights
in many ways. Furthermore, they are regarded as the symbol of
creating, protecting and nursing. They bear and grow-up
children. They have many more responsibilities like biological,
social and national. But, still their condition in our nation is
backward. They are so because of male domination, traditional,
social structures, unequal laws, lack of awareness, poverty and
lack of government protection for them.
Women in our society have been confined only to
household chores, rearing children, preparing food, collecting
fodder for cattle and family sanitation. Especially, they do not
have freedom for movement and for adopting job. They are
deprived of higher studies and property rights. They are not
encouraged for social exposure. Furthermore, they had been
the victim of domestic violence from their husbands, brothers,
mother-in-law and even relatives. Their appeal is not uprightly
accepted even by the administrator. Sometimes, they are even
beaten, kidnapped and killed. Hence, they are really living a
sorrowful life. CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics) and the report
of UNDP shows that women’s participation in developmental
works of Nepal is of low grade. Their rate of involvement in
different sectors like education, civil service, participation in
teaching and legal practice is very low.
Though many NGOs (National Government Organization),
INGOs (International Government Organization) and
governmental organizations are working for the rights of
women, their condition has not been improved significantly.
Therefore, in first place, the women themselves must raise
voice for their rights. Government, stakeholders, NGOs and
INGOs has to take certain measures to uplift the condition of
women in every nook and cranny of Nepal. Awareness
programs must be conducted in their favor. Rallies with slogans
like “GENDER EQUALITY”, “EDUCATION FOR ALL”, and etcetera
must be spread all over our country. Thus, women must be
provided with rights equal to that of men.
Reference;
The present status of Nepali women -
Ashmita Bhattarai
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