Transformations of Women in Tourism Work: A Case Study of Emancipation in Rural Nepal

A key challenge still exists for emancipation of women in the tourism industry in Nepal. The research addresses how females in Nepal transform themselves through engagement with trekking in remote areas. The authors investigated a female only tourism enterprise to determine how women can encounter avenues to reliable income support. Interviewees were members of Empowering Women Nepal (EWN), a Nepali Non-Government Organisation (NGO), and their interviews were used as a case study regarding women’s training. Open ended questions focused on the background of women who are likely to engage with tourism, barriers preventing engagement in tourism, the positive and negative side to tourism, avenues of support, and specific outcomes to date. The research found that rural and remote Nepali women are being emancipated via engagement with tourism.

Political Representation of Gender in Nepal

This paper is based on qualitative methods and discusses women's struggle for equal political participation, currently successful in the political representation of gender in Nepal. The aim of this paper is to examine the establishing equal representation in all sectors of elected government and to find out the inclusive participation of male and female in Nepalese, politics and parliament in together. It is based on completely secondary sources of data through the published in different governmental (election commission, 2074) and non-governmental organization. Nepal has been undergoing tremendous socio-political transformations over the past three decades, unitary to federal and monarchical government to the current republican political system; Nepali women have established themselves as key actors of socio-political changes. Nepali women began their struggle during the Rana Regime and advanced since the 1950s, by engaging both in popular peaceful political movements to armed insurgency and parliamentary competition with their male political counterparts. As a result, latest constitution of Nepal ensured 33% of seats are guaranteed to the parliaments and all other government positions as well as provision of male-female alternates eat provisions. As a result, from the national and local elections of 2017-18, women have come to occupy 41.8 percent political positions across the country. One of the key factors to ensure higher and meaningful participation of women in politics was these favorable electoral provisions. Women have demonstrated success in achieving higher participation in political positions. However, what has been achieved so far is not enough and continued rigorous action among all actors is essential.

Knowledge, awareness, attitudes and screening practices towards breast and cervical cancer among women in Nepal: a scoping review

Aim Breast and cervical cancers have emerged as major global health challenges and disproportionately affect women in low- and middle-income countries, including Nepal. This scoping review aimed to map the knowledge, attitudes and screening practices for these cancers among Nepali women to improve cancer outcomes and reduce inequality. Methods Five electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, PsycINFO and PubMed), grey literature, and reference and citation lists were searched for articles published in English up to June 2021. Articles were screened against inclusion/exclusion criteria, and data from eligible studies were extracted. Results were summarised narratively. Results The search yielded 615 articles, 38 of which were included in this scoping review (27 cervical cancer, 10 breast cancer, 1 both cancers). Levels of knowledge regarding breast and cervical varied widely. The main knowledge gaps were misconceptions about symptoms and risk factors, and poor understanding of screening behaviours. Screening practices were mostly inadequate due to socio-cultural, geographical or financial barriers. Positive attitudes towards cervical screening were associated with higher education and increased knowledge of screening modalities. Higher levels of knowledge, (health) literacy and participation in awareness campaigns facilitated breast cancer screening. Conclusion Knowledge and screening practices for breast and cervical cancer among Nepali women were poor and highlight the need for awareness and education programmes. Future research should explore community health worker-led awareness and screening interventions for cervical cancer, and programmes to increase the practice of breast self-examination and clinical breast examinations to support early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Gender inequality in the global mental health research workforce: a research authorship scoping review and qualitative study in Nepal

IntroductionAlthough women’s health is prioritised in global research, few studies have identified structural barriers and strategies to promote female leadership and gender equality in the global health research workforce, especially in low-income and middle-income countries.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study to evaluate gender equality in the mental health research workforce in Nepal. The scoping review assessed gender disparities in authorship of journal publications for Nepal mental health research, using databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, NepJol, NepMed) for 5 years. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 Nepali researchers to identify structural barriers limiting women’s leadership.ResultsOf 337 articles identified, 61% were by Nepali first authors. Among Nepali first authors, 38.3% were women. Nepali women had half the odds of being first authors compared with men, when referenced against non-Nepali authors (OR 0.50, 95% CI 1.30 to 3.16). When limiting publications to those based on funded research, the odds were worse for first authorship among Nepali women (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.71). The qualitative analysis supported the scoping review and identified a lack of gender-friendly organisational policies, difficulties in communication and mobility, and limited opportunities for networking as barriers to women’s leadership in global health research.ConclusionEfforts are needed for greater representation of Nepali women in global mental health research, which will require transformative organisational policies to foster female leadership. Those in leadership need to recognise gender inequalities and take necessary steps to address them. Funding agencies should prioritise supporting organisations with gender equality task forces, policies and indicators.

Theorising violence in mobility: A case of Nepali women migrant workers

In this article, I examine violence as constitutive of mobility for the feminine diasporic subject through an examination of women migrant workers from Nepal. I frame this project with two distinct theoretical approaches to understanding violence. First, I draw upon Catharine MacKinnon's provocative question ‘Are women human?’ to elucidate points of disjuncture between individual women migrants and state policy that dehumanises them. Second, I address some of the gaps in MacKinnon's work by turning to Judith Butler's theory of violence as primarily embodied in the corporeal subject. Drawing on 30 in-depth interviews with returned women migrant workers, I examine three moments in the migration process that demonstrate how violence operates ubiquitously in and through circuits of mobility. I conclude that by putting Butler's and Mackinnon's approaches to violence in dialogue and examining the Nepali case through a dialectic framework, intriguing possibilities for approaching migration and its problematics are revealed.

The Role of Nutrition Counseling in Controlling the Non-Communicable Diseases among Nepali Women

The general perception of nutrition is that it is just the process of taking food. However, it represents food science that ultimately relates to human health. Unhealthy and imbalanced food and the modern lifestyle are contributing to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in recent days. Hypertension, diabetes and cancer are some major NCDs across the world that have created challenges for human life. Annually, millions of people die due to the food related problems. The major objective of the study is to analyze the health status of non-communicable diseases among Nepali women. This study emphasizes the counseling and modification of diet that are crucial in controlling non-communicable illness. This study is based on the secondary data and review of literature. All these data were reviewed through journals, research articles, books, and the association’s dietary guidelines. The reports by WHO, Nepal Demographic Health Survey, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and National Institute of Diabetes are also reviewed. The experience of working in this field for a long time has also been utilized in analyzing the data. A number of NCDs is being increased globally and Nepal is no exception. The WHO report of 2018 reveals that NCDs are killing 41 million people yearly, equivalent to 71% of all death globally. Similarly, 15 million people die from it between 30 and 69 age groups, and 85% of these 'premature' deaths in low and middle-income countries. According to NDHS (2016), the prevalence of hypertension in women in Nepal is 17% of those aged 15 and above. Alter food habits, overweight and obesity as well as food practices during pregnancy, after delivery and daily intake of convenience fast food in Tiffin and snacks are some reasons to increase the NCDs. Nutrition counselling and awareness, dietary policy guidelines and an active role of diet specialist (dietician/nutritionist) will be the effective mitigation in controlling the NCDs number.

Unleashing Nepal’s Demography as Soft Power

For small powers like Nepal, enhancement of soft power to achieve national interests and economic aspirations is important. For this, however, the aspect of Nepal’s demography has not been considered as a source for advancing Nepal’s soft power. Owing to the same research gap, this study emphasises how Nepal’s demographics can be a significant facet to enhancing Nepal’s soft power. With the same objective, this paper has essentially explored the unexplored territories of demography, migration and also women’s contributions to Nepal’s economy to boost up Nepal’s soft power ambition. Stressing on the changed narrative away from the conventional notion of “yam between two boulders”, the study introduces the idea of “Global Nepali” as a component to enhance Nepal’s soft power, considering the changing demography of Nepal. Also, by shedding light on the contribution of Nepali women in Nepal’s economic growth and its potentiality to advance Nepal’s soft power, this study reiterates that the soft power of a country like Nepal lies in the hearts of its people and what they have to offer to the world.

Voice of Protest in Nepali Poetry by Women

This article explores feminist voice in selected poems of four Nepali female poets. They are: "Ma Eutā Chyātieko Poshtar" ["I, a Frayed Poster"] by Banira Giri, "Pothī Bāsnu Hudaina" ["A Hen Must not Crow"] by Kunta Sharma,"Ma Strī Arthāt Āimai"["I am a Female or a Woman"] by Seema Aavas and "Tuhāu Tyo Garvalai" ["Abort the Female Foetus"] by Pranika Koyu. In the selected poems they protest patriarchy and subvert patriarchal norms and values that trivialize women. The tone of their poems is sarcastic towards male chauvinism that treats women as a second-class citizen. The poets question and ridicule the restrictive feminine gender roles that limit women's opportunity. To examine the voice of protest against patriarchy in the selected poems, the article takes theoretical support from French feminism, though not limited to it. The finding of the article suggests that Nepali women have used the genre to the political end, as a medium to advocate women's rights.

Assessing Ethno-Ecology of Women in Nepal: Practices and Perspectives

Women mostly involve in raring and caring natural resources in their daily life. This paper intends to explore the practices and perspectives of Nepali women on ecology conservation in relation to ecological, socio-cultural and religious perspectives. For environmental degradation, women's resource management plays a vital role in ecology conservation. As a qualitative research approach, field observation, focus group discussion, and in-depth interviews with women in the community were the methods of collecting necessary information. Nepali women involve in the collection and management of plant resources inappropriately. Therefore, their perspective and practice can play an important role to minimize the rapid degradation of the environment regarding with management of plant resources. The theoretical literature review consists of movements on environment conservation in the world and in Nepal. No doubt, the message of their contribution will be the lesson to the world for the protection of environment as well as to support and meet the slogan of “local act global think” to save the nature.

Microfinance Services and Women Empowerment in Biratnagar Metropolitan, Nepal

This article examines how far microfinancing services positively affect the empowerment of Nepali women living in the eastern part of Nepal. A purposive sampling method was used and responses of 97 women were collected through structured questionnaires. The women were using microfinance services on their own and at least from the last three years. Results indicate that the use of microfinance services (credit and saving) helps women to empower. Easy access to financial services and satisfaction with the loan payment period causes no difference in the improvement of women’s empowerment. Saving service is significantly associated with women’s household decision-making, major decision-making in the domestic context, and availability of basic household needs. Microfinance services contribute to women’s socio-economic empowerment and their children’s education.