Nepal Case Study – Part One

Nepal Study Background

The Women, Work and Violence in S/SE Asia research project covered the following components:

Community Study

This study focussed on the experience of women and men working as unskilled labourers on the Manohara Construction site.  Thirty-two interviews with women and ten men were conducted with community members.

A second study focussed on the informal entertainment sector in the Thamel area of Kathmandu.  Twenty interviews and two focus groups were conducted with women who were employed as sex workers. Many of the women interviewed were migrants.

Professional Level

Thirty interviews were conducted with women from good economic backgrounds engaged in a range of occupations including banking, IT, education, medicine, NGOs and in running their own businesses. Some were married and some had remained single, and all had either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

Case Study Activity

Let’s now examine the Nepal context using the social ecology framework that was conducted as part of the research.

Reading 1:  Context Report Nepal

Read  this report, and use the questions below to make notes and test your own understanding of the data provided:

Reflection Questions Note down the range of ways, identified in this reading, in which women are still discriminated against What positive actions (if any) are noted that have been taken already to improve the situation? What obstacles exist that prevent positive actions being taken or benefiting women to the extent that they should?

Insights from the study

Now read the following article by Suti Sahariah, written for the study, which gives insight into the realities of the informal entertainment industry in Thamel.  It is found within the Women, Work and Violence in South Asia Newsletter no.1.

Reading 2: Women in the Informal Entertainment Industry

Reflective question:

Case Study Assignment  Select one of the following learning activities: For Nepal, or a country of your choice, draw up a map of types of organisations and individuals who you think have an interest as stakeholders in reducing violence against women at work or in resisting such change? Use a different colour for stakeholders who have an influence at societal, community, household or personal levels. or Write a short article on a country of your choice making use of research you conduct drawing on the social ecology approach Share the work you have done on your activity via the activity submission button, indicating whether you are willing for this to be shared on the Gender in South Asia blog.

Now return to the Theme 1 Self Assessment Page

Theme 1: Context – Self Assessment