Gender norms in Nepalese society: A complex web of cultural, social, and economic factors

Gender norms and roles in Nepalese society are highly diverse and complex, shaped by various cultural, social, and economic factors such as caste, ethnicity, religion, economic class, geography, and more. According to the World Bank, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a significant portion of the population living in poverty. This economic reality has significant implications for gender roles and norms in Nepalese society.

Patriarchy and traditional gender roles

In general, women in Nepal are disadvantaged by multiple traditional and cultural practices such as the dowry system, child marriage, domestic violence, menstrual untouchability, and stigmatization. The intersections of different social structures make it challenging to understand gender roles in Nepalese society. Nepalese society generally follows a "composite culture," where what is considered acceptable or taboo for one person or group may not be the same for another. Women are often considered the caretakers of the family, while men are the breadwinners and inherit property.

Patriarchy is dominant in Nepalese society, and men typically have a comparative advantage over women. Men have higher mobility and greater authority in decision-making. Women need the conformity of men to make decisions in the family or participate in social structures. Surprisingly, women often defend patriarchy more than men in these societies. The legal code is also one of the main reasons behind the stronger patriarchal structure in Nepalese society.

Matriarchal societies

While patriarchy is dominant, some Janajati (indigenous) cultures are matriarchal in nature or gender-equal. Women make decisions in the household, and women have more rights than men. Men are considered to be in a supportive role. In some of these groups, "polyandry" is practiced, where a woman can marry multiple men at the same time, known as "draupadi pratha." However, matriarchal structures are fading away due to the influence of modern education systems.

Gender-neutral societies

Some cultures in Nepal are gender-neutral, where most decisions are made by men and women together. The age plays a crucial role, and the head of the family is the eldest member, irrespective of their gender. Although there are different expectations from men and women in these cultures, the decisions are made on a participatory basis. The "Tharu culture" can be one of the examples.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the traditional belief systems of Nepali culture guided by "Satya Sanatan Dharma" do not recognize masculine and feminine as equals but complementary to each other. Gender norms can vary widely among different ethnic groups and families, even within the same location. The concept of "jaat le diyeko" determines what men and women can and cannot do in private and public domains. When mixed up with modern concepts of gender equality and equity, which are predominant in the new Nepalese legal system and mainstream education system, there have been many debates and conflicts regarding gender in Nepalese society. Overall, the complexity and diversity of gender roles and norms in Nepalese society suggest the need for nuanced and context-specific approaches to address gender inequality and promote gender equity.

Sources:

World Bank. (2022). Nepal Overview. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nepal/overview

Gurung, M. B. (2019). Culture and Gender Role: A Comparative Study of Nepalese Women Living in Nepal and Australia. Journal of Health and Social Sciences, 4(2), 203-217.

Shrestha, S. (2016). Gender, culture and social norms in Nepal. Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal