Long overdue

PRATIBHA RAWAL

If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.” This famous saying about women is still not applied in our society. In Nepal, people as well as the government believe very strongly in the empowerment of women. The status of women in urban areas is a little better than that in rural areas. Decision-making power, right to information are far from women’s reach. Being a woman, I am still in dilemma about the reason for these. Either we really don’t want to grow or something is pulling us back. Women are always in search of supportive hands. They alone cannot make decisions

Today, the government provides several powers to women. She has the rights in each and every aspect of life. But why are women suppressed? Why does this patriarchal society always dominate women’s opinion, voice and rights? Our government should increase political, social and economic strength of women, and these should be applied to every woman’s life. There is a famous saying: “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”

Even though women are the major creators in the society, they have not achieved equality with men. A woman is labeled as the heart of a family, yet all the powers are held by men. After marriage, most women fully depend on their husband and the girl child hardly gets education in Nepal. Illiteracy makes them unfit for government or private jobs, and the worst part is they are unaware about their own fundamental rights. Not only family but our politics is also influenced by patriarchal viewpoint. The political participation of women is very low compared to men. Women in the world are socially, economically, culturally and politically dominated and they are excluded from opportunities. As we all know, Nepal is listed as a poor country. The major reason behind it is gender discrimination.

Women bear almost all responsibility for meeting the basic needs of the family, yet they are systematically denied the resources, information and freedom of action they need to fulfill this responsibility. Lack of proper skill training for women’s empowerment and awareness is required. Unless women are educated they cannot come forward, so informal education is needed. Socially, politically, economically and culturally men are always considered superior to women, breadwinners, head of the family and the caretaker and this is major cause for the low participation of women in every sector. All should have knowledge regarding women’s empowerment.