Women Status in
Bindu Poudel(Nagasaki, Japan)
The female population of Nepal is larger in comparision with other
South Asian countries.The position of women differs from one ethnic group to another
and from one region to another in
Nepal. Nepali society there are people belonging to various tribes and culture
-such as Bramins Chhetris , Newars , Tamang , Magars and occupational castes.
Since the society is greatly influenced with Hindu caste social structure/ the position and
status of women in high caste is differnent from than other caste. Hindu
society is more male- dominated than in some other hill ethnic tribes.
According to Hindu social custom, sati, (in the past widow used to burn alive along with her dead husband )
,child mariage, polygamy and the restriction on widow marriage are in practice
from the time immemorial. Women who
is belonging to the lower and
untouchable groups are mostly exploited
though their position is higher
than the upper caste women within their own caste groups
Religiously, men and women both at least have to give birth a son. It
is thinking that without the a son parents can not go to the heaven after their
death. A son only can open the door of heaven who will remains at home to look
after parents old-aged. But
daughter can not stay with their parents at a long time. Parents take their girl child as a symbol of some days
guest at their home. As per a family planning survey conducted in Nepal the
desire to have a son by women without childern was found to be 86%and in women
who have had girl the desire for a son was 100% those with one son wanted
another son in 90% of the cases. We can easily imagine that having a son is
extrembly important in Nepali society . So from the very begining of her birth
the girl child is discriminated by parents and society . The family do not want
to invest for girl either in education or any other skill development
programmes.Because she can not be useful after her marriage so all possible
facilities they want to provide to their son.
Many information and statistics available which confirm the low status of women and girls in Nepal and
which depicts gender disparties in health, education and labour force. The
infant morality rate (IMR ) of females higher than for males.
The ratio of life expectancy is not as equal as man . There is a similar
pattern of discrimination in education. The majority of girls are deprived to
help their mothers with her house hold work, the cattle rearing, and take care
of their small brothers and
sisters. Consequently, they should leave school at an early age. It has a
common attitude that education for girls is a wasted investement. .
The basic economic disadvantage women face in terms of unequal right to
in herit , own parental property and the social disadvantage they face in terms
of control over their sexuallity are most overloked . The economic status
of women in Nepal is so pitiable.Womens’ representation in
government administration is very nominal.Overal women still constitute less
than eight percent in government administration. A very few women are represented in the
executive position of the political
parties. Women representation at the ministerial level has ranged between one
and two percent since 1991.Womens’ political participation and access to positons of power are
restricted because of problems suchas; personal insecurity, restrictions on her
mobility, lack of economic resources, to participate in public activity, sole responsibility
of household affairs and child care activities. Poverty and ignorance forced
some the poor and ignornat rural youg
girls sell themselves to the brothels in India .Sometimes parents,
husband and relatives are involved in the selling the innocent female members
of their family . It is said that
there are about 150 thousand female sex workers in different brothels of
India. Due to the lack of awareness, education, employment and strong legal
provision against those who are involved in such activities getting encouraged
this social evil.
Similary women’s health is also so miserable,the main reason is that
the early marriage,hard work ,no prper health care . Even today in village
about 40% of the girls are married before the age of 16 . About same ratio of
girls bear their first child
between ages of 15 and 19 which means that the baby will probably be of
low birth weight. It brings high mother and child mortality rate in
Nepal.Without having better care to pregnancy and bearing many childreen also are
endangering the womens’ condition.As for desiring son women are sacrifying
their lives.They are force to give birth even a dozen childern in a cost ofa
son. Dowry,(daijo) gifts given to bride on behalf of girls’ family while during
the marriage ceromony.Nepalese
women are suffering form such evil-social practice. Those who can not
bring enough dowries they sometime
use to be harrassed by the bridegroom’s side . Every year many innocent girls are
being sucided due to the harrassement made by their husband’s side.Those who
can not afford dowry,, they can hardly get bride groom for theirgrown
upsdaughter.However it is not
in practice in all over the
country.It depends on the region and society. Poligamy, domestic violence,
discrimination in education and parental property and social status are the key
women issues in Nepal.Few efforts so far have been made by the governmental and non governmental
sectors to improve the situation of women but these are yet to cope up the
issues practically.
Even at the age of 21st century, the Nepalese women are still facing the problems as like the 14th century women.They are economically , politically , academically and socially backward in comparision the women in the other parts of the world. Therefore,the women education is the most needeed things particularly for country like Nepal.It should be made such policies with women rights can be guaranted.There must be equal opportunities to the women so that they can equally access in health, education, employment , trade and other prosperous sectors as like men and they can make their own fate themselves.