Women!!!

In the past decades, she was just a daughter, a wife, a mother or a daughter in law. Despite being the keenest person in her family, she never got the opportunity to substantiate herself beyond the position of a housekeeper. Not only had the deep-rooted norms of the society, but also the presence of sociocultural constraints restricted her to go beyond the four walls of her house. Although going through the complex intricacies of life being a woman, she never stopped the endless struggle to prove her ambition and existence in a gender biased society like ours.

In a country of literacy rate 56.6% among which woman literacy is merely 44.5 % (Nepal living standard survey, 2010-11), the women are marching forward to end the struggle to prove her ambition and existence in a gender biased society like ours.

The female leaders and achievers like Charimaya Tamang, Anuradha Koirala, Durga Ghimire and Pushpa Basnet are the examples who took the endeavor to make a difference. A woman behind ABC Nepal (Agro forestry, Basic health and Cooperative Nepal), Durga Ghimire, is the one who established Nepal’s first NGO in 1987. Even during that time, she rescued 35 minor girls from Delhi in 1996. The two CNN heroes, Anuradha Koirala and Pushpa Basnet are not leaders by the award they received in an international level but the social welfare they have done by changing the lives of many women and children. Additionally, a victim herself in early teenage, Charimaya Tamang is a woman with strength and dedication who received the Ramon Magsaysay 2013 for her work against girl trafficking. The achievement for the nation is not only the international awards rather such personalities bringing a change to the gender dimension in our society. 

If asked to a student “How many female politicians’ name can you write down?” Obviously the answer will be quite a few. During the first parliamentary elections in 1959, no woman candidates won the election. In the 1990s as the pressure to enroll women politicians increased, the participation of women increased in politics. Although the huge step to involve 33%of women in constituent assembly was implemented, yet the female leaders faced a gender biased attitude while including their views in a decision. The women leaders like Sujata Koirala (NC), Bidhya Bhandari (CPN-UML), Savitra Bhusal (CPN-UML), Suprabha Ghimere (NC) are the leading women personalities in politics today. Comparing to the scenario of the past, women leaders have acquired several different positions and roles in the government. Despite the fact that the situation is still not worthy, so far the involvement from 0 to 33% is a huge achievement for the female leaders. 

Moreover, in the business and entrepreneurship as well, the contribution of women is increasing these days. Despite the low level of literacy in the country, the majority of women are involved in micro and small level business which covers 60% to 65% of the national output. Furthermore, the inspiration bestowed by entrepreneurs and corporate leaders like Prabha Basnet, Pramila Acharya Rijal, Chhaya Sharma, etc are providing the women from minority to be leaders themselves. Working as a chairperson of SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council, Ms. Pramila Acharya Rijal is undertaking the task to enhance the living standard of deprived women by training, teaching and inspiring them to be an entrepreneur. Ms. Chhaya Sharma, the president of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Nepal along with other notable personalities like Dr Prabha Basnet (first women PhD of Nepal) are trying to build a network of women entrepreneurs from different region in order to promote the products of the rising women entrepreneurs over the country. Such initiatives from the higher level are creating impacts into the lives of many women. According to a recent survey and statistics, the number of self employed women in the nation today is around 500,000. Nevertheless, Meena Shrestha, director of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, points out the fact that the registered business run by women is only 3000 in number. This portrays that the females are still bound by the lack of social security, household turmoil, etc which hinders their ambitions to work for their living. So, the prospect of leadership is high in such sectors still the lack of skills and trainings inhibit the level of risks they tend to take. 

Comparing to the statistics of the past in several sectors, we can see the difference in today’s era. Probably as a result of the problems confronted in the past, the generation of woman today is intellectual, independent and confident having a strong desire not only to set a benchmark but also to make a contribution to our society. Be it the micro level industry or a multinational one, women developing an aspiration to work rather than staying in home is a bold sign to exhibit the leadership of women in Nepal today. Lastly, leadership is not only about organizing people and working towards a common goal rather I define “Leadership in Nepal” as an influence made by different people or leaders to motivate numerous other people to take initiative and work for the betterment of the society and the country.