The term "feminist" often evokes a range of reactions varying from admiration to disdain. People who believe in equality for all in every aspect of life, despite their sexual identity, consider feminists as: empowered, trailblazers, champions, visionaries.

Like many Nepali children, I grew up watching Bollywood flicks. As a child, I used to come home from school and flick through the channels and there would always be some film or the other would running on TV. And all the films had the same old premise: A morally good guy (the hero), the pretty subdued heroine, the over-the-top villain and, sometimes, a comic sidekick. At the time, I never found anything wrong with it. Almost all films were made this way (and even continue to be made to this day) and so there was never a way to compare and decide whether or not this was an accurate representation of life. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to notice how films have gone on to shape our ideas of masculinity and femininity.

What started as a joke on Twitter about an unwritten rule among country radio stations not to play two female artists in a row prompted outrage by country music stars, but also pledges to give women equal airtime.

Being the subject of discussion on a Facebook post of someone I didn’t even know too well was amusing at first but it quickly became a source of much anguish and hurt when people took to name calling and caste discrimination.

Why is my existence questioned? Why is my opinion questioned just because of my womanhood? Does working till late night and being independent, living on my own, wearing clothes of my choice make me promiscuous? I often think of these questions.

In an industry where a male actor is called a hero, Taapsee Pannu says her aim is to break this gender-based stereotype and she plans to do so slowly and steadily.

As an American, I have seen how currently living in the United States is difficult for many minorities, for multiple reasons. But, one group I have seen that is being targeted frequently by the government, certain media, and the public is the LGBTQ+ community—this community is continuously evolving and including new terms and identities.

KATHMANDU, April 29: The constitution has, in its Preamble, guaranteed equal status to men and women, promising to eliminate discrimination based on class, caste, region, language, religion and gender and all forms of caste-based untouchability.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29: Shika Corona strums her guitar on a Kuala Lumpur stage, the crowd dancing as she launches into a chorus, “Gender doesn’t lie between your thighs!”

I’ve noticed so many youths these days, regardless of what gender they are, being brought up so focused on importance of education and success that even their parents spare them from the housework as if home chores were unnecessary “hardships” that they are allowed to refrain from. I was one such spoilt brat. I was raised by a single mother and she considered education above everything and she always told us that we will eventually learn housework when are married.

Sports should be played by women and men alike without any forms of discrimination in terms of gender and disabilities

KATHMANDU, Nov 25: How supportive our school, college and university curricula to dismantle or change the society based on discriminatory practices constructed under the sex-gender system?

The number of Swedes looking for gender reassignment has been rising steadily throughout the country, peaking in the capital area. To match this trend, the Swedish government proposed fast-tracking surgical and legal gender change for people as young as their teens.

KATHMANDU,  Sept 28: A total of 170 cases of violence against women occurred in the country in a month.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Men could also experiment with makeup. Paint your nails, put on a prominent shade of lipstick or eyeshadow, put on mascara or fake lashes, highlight your cheekbones or nose – just about any kind of makeup would make you appear more androgynous. Longer hair or dyed hair also goes well with the look.

KATHMANDU, June 3:  The budget allocations relevant for climate change adaptation and gender sensitivity, as segregated in the federal budget, will reach a new high in the next fiscal year.

In our traditionally male-dominated society, women are expected to cook, do household work, and raise children. Men tell their wives what to do. Women are supposed to be shy, submissive, organized, and clean while men are expected to be tough, aggressive, dominant, lazy, and messy.

International Women’s Day this year was marked numerous events such as protests in South Korea in support of the #MeToo movement and a feminist strike in Spain.

ILAM, March 8: Bishnu Dahal, 73, has been actively advocating gender equality for two and half decades. Her informal leadership in this field spans double the time. However, she feels, gender gap is still very wide in the society.

LONDON — Two years ago, the United Nations designated February 11 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. As we approach another commemoration, it is worth reflecting on female scholars’ countless contributions to science and technology.

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: By nature, Laxmi (Akshay Kumar) seems to be very innovative and creative. It is this quality that makes him gain trust among his customers in his grill workshop. Not just that, Laxmi, newly married to his wife, Gayatri (Radhika Apte) is a doting husband.

Rooting for equality comes through different actions and gestures. There is no right or wrong way to do it – you just do it. And equality in itself comes in different forms – gender, race, language, religion, convictions, belief, physical ability and so many more. And while many people voice their opinions on these issues and how inequality in any form hinders progress of societies and nations as a whole, only a few people actually do something about it. WoMen.co is a newly established café that promotes gender equality.

TANAHUN, Nov  24:  To put an end to the patriarchal thinking, women of Tanahun have taken the dead body to the  Damauli Ghat for the cremation on Friday.

NEW DELHI, Nov 24: An all-female police motorbike squad is set to take to Delhi’s streets next month, a senior police official said, as reports of violence against women rise in the Indian capital.

AFGHANISTAN, Nov 22: Sitting cross-legged on the floor of a sparsely decorated Kabul apartment, the young, bubbly woman told me why she lies to her neighbors.

We are living in the era where people have started thinking rationally; we have modernized not with technologies, but with our thoughts too.

Kathmandu: Yuwalaya on Friday made public a report of their year-long media monitoring study held on 10 leading national dailies.

The relationship between economic empowerment, often discussed in relation to employment and income, and gender equality is not straightforward. Increased access to employment and income for women does not readily translate into an improved status or bargaining power for women. Although involvement in economic activity is a necessary condition for the attainment of gender equality in the economic sphere, it is in itself not sufficient, partly because not all economic activity is empowering and additional measures are required to promote gender equality in other areas.

TILOTTAMA (RUPANDEHI), May 27: Three third gender individuals have announced their candidacy for the June 14 local level elections.

The Social Welfare Council of Nepal listed over two hundred INGOs working in Nepal in the fiscal year 2072/073. Although these organizations have wide-ranging interventions, most engage in some form of dealing with gender based violence (GBV) with a specific focus on women as the victims.

What is gender equality? Asking this question at a dinner party could bring the whole party to a screeching halt, as people start arguing about gender, pay equity, and why women do the majority of the child care. Your business can’t fix the world’s problems (and just what those problems are is debatable depending on whom you ask), but you can make your workplace a better place for everyone.

KATHMANDU, May 8: The National Women Commission has set up a Local Level Election Gender Monitoring Committee in view of the local-level election scheduled to be held in two phases -May 14 and June 14.

KATHMANDU, May 5: Badri Pun has been barred from contesting the local-level elections because of the gender identity in his citizenship certificate.

SINDHULI, April 10: The Blue Diamond Society (B DS), an umbrella organization of the LGBTs, has claimed that there are 2.5 million third genders in Nepal.

Professor Dr Dibya Singh Shah is an eminent nephrologist. She is the head of Nephrology and Transplant Medicine at Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. She did her MBBS and MD from India, and completed training on nephrology and transplant medicine from Australia. In conversation with Republica’s Prasansha Rimal, she talks about her inspiration and challenges she had to face as a female doctor.

We saw no representation of Himalayan women in history or literature, nor in the research and development sectors

I still remember my initial days when my husband and daughter used to discourage me. They let me feel that what I was doing was a low profile job. I had clearly told them that I was proud of my job as I have to deal with educated people.

Actor Russell Brand, who is re-evaluating his thoughts on gender ever since he has had a daughter, says he will dress his daughter in gender neutral clothing.

Bhawana Ghimire is a well known name in sports management. She was appointed the first female CEO of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in October 2014. She worked for CAN as CEO for 21 months and is currently the executive director of Bat and Ball Foundation (B2F), a non-profit organization which aims to work in the field of cricket development. In conversation with Republica’s Prasansha Rimal she talks about her experience as CEO of CAN and challenges and opportunities in the field of sports development in Nepal.

KATHMANDU, Sept 22: A two-day International Conference on Gender Equity and Social Justice kicked off here today. The Conference is organised by Legislature-Parliament's Social Justice and Human Rights Committee.

KATHMANDU, Sept 20: Representatives from Bhutan and Myanmar are already here to take part in the International Conference on Gender Equity and Social Justice scheduled to kick off from upcoming Thursday.

KATHMANDU,Sept 3: On September 2014, at the premises of the United Nations, well known British actress Emma Watson gave a speech on gender equality.

Global Gender Gap

Both men and women must recognize their individual identity and learn to respect that of others.