Nepal still has many challenges to overcome regarding gender equality, but Nepalis can also be proud of the leaps in terms of the same. Nepali women have become more independent, confident, educated, and aware. They have also become financially independent. Earlier, men used to be the only breadwinners in the family, but now women contribute equally. Some women are the major or only breadwinners of their families. It’s amazing to see Nepali women coordinating household duties like cooking and looking after children together with working in offices. Both rural and urban working women are a symbol of pride to Nepalis.
Not just urban models who walk in ramps in five star hotels are confident, strong, beautiful and powerful. Rural women also have come a long way in terms of their education, confidence, and contribution to society. Women who work hard in the Middle East are as good role models. Similarly, rural women who cook, look after cattle, and work hard every day for the betterment of the family are role models too.
FILE PHOTO/REPUBLICA
A total of 22,655 Nepali women received permission from the Department of Foreign Employment to leave the country for overseas jobs in 2011-2012, up 117.5 percent compared to 10,416 in 2010- 2011. A lot of Nepali women are employed overseas, especially in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malaysia, Israel and Lebanon. It is reported by the labor department that most work as domestic workers. Whether Nepali women work in Israel looking after the elderly, or in Kuwait as domestic helpers, they are supporting their families back in Nepal.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the overall literacy rate (for population aged 5 years and above) has increased from 54.1 percent in 2001 to 65.9 percent in 2011. Male literacy rate is 75.1 percent compared to female literacy rate of 57.4 percent.
Female ownership of fixed assets is increasing. Altogether, 19.71 percent of households reported the ownership of land, house, or both in the name of a female member of the household. In urban areas, 26.77 percent of the households show female-ownership of fixed assets, while the percentage stands at 18.02 in rural areas. This indication that more and more women are getting their fair share of wealth is very positive.
CBS data also indicates that the sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) at the national level has decreased from 99.8 in 2001 to 94.2 in 2011. In approximate numbers, there are 796,422 more females than males in the country.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) is a socio economic index designed to measure the relative access to education of males and females. It is calculated as the quotient of the number of females by the number of males enrolled in a given stage of education (primary, secondary, etc). 100 percent GPI means that enrollment of males and females is equal. According to CBS Nepal’s Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (NMICS), Gender Parity Index (GPI) in primary education for the age group of 1-5 was 0.99, which means that female and male enrollment were almost equal. GPI in secondary education was 0.90 for the age group of 6-10.
Another interesting result of CBS’s cluster survey was that 48 percent women between 15-49 years of age believed that a husband beating his wife is justified in at least one of the following circumstances—if the wife goes out without telling him, neglects the children, argues with him, refuses to have sex with him, or burns the food. This high acceptance among women of physical abuse from husbands for such simple reasons is not acceptable, and should be reduced. When husbands use beating and verbal abuse as a means to vent their frustrations and anger, Nepali women should not feel that it is the husband’s right to do so.
According to CBS cluster survey, the number of females between the age of 15 and 49 who to live in different house or in Chhaupadi during menstruation is 19 percent. This discrimination should decrease. Everyone, and especially women, should think that women are the same—pure and divine— whether or not they are menstruating.
According to CBS cluster survey, women’s exposure to mass media stands thus: 49 percent of women aged 15 to 49 listen to the radio at least once a week, 29 percent of them watch TV, 8 percent read newspapers, and 5 percent do all three. On subjective well-being of women aged 15-24, the survey found that 36 percent of women were very or somewhat satisfied with their family life, friendships, school, current job, health, neighbor, etc, 64 percent were very or somewhat happy with life, and 39 percent thought life had improved during the last one year and expected their lives to be better after one more year. In spite of the discrimination, gender inequality and hardships that they face, Nepali women are happy with their lives and think their lives will change for the better in the future.
During the 1990s, there was very little female representation in the parliament. In 1991, 1994, and 1999, only 6, 7 and 12 women were elected to the parliament respectively, out of 205 seats. Nepali women’s representative in the legislative body dramatically increased to 32.2 percent in the constituent assembly (CA) elections held in 2008. In the election, 191 women leaders (33.2 percent) were elected out of 575 seats, and cabinet nominated 6 women out of 26 available nominations, resulting in 197 female members (32.8 percent) in the legislative parliament.
Nepal is at the 14th Position globally regarding the number of female leaders in the parliament. The major change in women’s representation is owing to the reservation of seats provided to women through the interim constitution of Nepal in 2007. This increase of female representation is another significant positive sign, which lead to the voices of women being amplified through female representatives. Violence against women can be reduced with the elected representatives voicing concerns about it and other women’s issues.
Empowered women contribute not only to themselves, but also to their families. Most females give their earnings back to the family. No wonder, the language we speak is called the mother tongue and not father tongue.
The author works at Standard Chartered Bank
Surajthapa1@hotmail.com
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