Content
About this brief
Gender discrimination in Nepal: Does it vary across socio-demographics?
Brief about:
Journal Article (2021)
Written by:
Gender discrimination in Nepal is perceived differently by different socio-demographics background groups, and some socio-demographics background group have lack awareness that they are being discriminated against.
This research aimed to understand how far the Nepalese population believe gender discrimination exists within society, and how the perception of gender discrimination then differs across each socio-demographics.
It found that gender, age, urban/rural, education, and economic status all have an impact on gender discrimination in Nepal.
What it means
This means that women who resided in a rural community were more likely to experience gender-based violence than women in urban settings.
Despite reporting experiences that can be described as gender discrimination, there was a significant lack of awareness of whether gender discrimination exists between the persons residing in rural settings, compared with persons residing in urban settings. This is likely because of the higher education-levels within urban area populations, than those residing in rural areas who do not perceive gender discrimination as a serious an issue. A lack of awareness means some women takes gender discrimination as a normal course of action, and do not then seek support or speak to someone to prevent or end gender-based abuse publicly.
Citizens aged 25-39 years are more likely to report the experiences of gender-based discrimination compared to those 18-24, while those over 35 were even less likely to report experiences of gender-based discrimination. There was a significant lack of gender based awareness measured by women over the age of 39 and living in rural areas. This might be that the age group of 25-39 are a more educated and more critical demographic than older age groups. There is a higher awareness among this age category for the need for equality and gender justice.
More educated women reported witnessing more gender discrimination than less educated women, and higher income women also reported more likely to experience gender-based discrimination than lower income women.
The perceptions and awareness outlined in this research can be seen in the emergence of the growing women empowerment movement and effect of different social institutions such school, college and social medias (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and so on)
For younger generations, there is becoming deeper awareness for gender discrimination across Nepal urban areas because of the impact of education and social media.. Younger generations are becoming more aware of gender justice issues and are raising their voices and speak out against gender discrimination which is created by deeply ingrained traditional cultural norms and practices.
Key findings
- This research found that female respondents were 2.What it means
38 times more likely than men to report having experienced or seen a family member experience gender discrimination in the past 12 months.
- Women in rural areas, where more traditional norms and values are still practiced, were 1.What it means
17 more likely to encounter gender discrimination compared with urban areas.
- In the last 12 months, one in every four young women had been physically assaulted, and have witnessed 3.What it means
3 per cent more physical violence than in urban settings.
Proposed action
- The government and community based organisations need to consider the different levels of reporting when understanding the prevalence of gender discrimination
They need to look at which demographics are underreporting gender discrimination and target these areas with awareness programs to increase reporting.
- The Women’s Commission, local government organisations and community based organisations need to protect rural and older women to ensure gender justice through policy, plans and programmes
- How parents choose to socialise and educate their children is a contributing factor to upholding the patriarchy and enabling gender discrimination
Changing children’s perception of gender through gender socialisation could be an effective way to eradicate gender discrimination at its root cause
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
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Gender discrimination in Nepal: Does it vary across socio-demographics?
Cite this brief: Gupta, Anil Kumar. 'Gender discrimination in Nepal: Does it vary across socio-demographics?'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/gender-discrimination-in-nepal-does-it-vary-across-socio-demographics/
Brief created by: Anil Kumar Gupta | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- Gupta, A. K., ‘Gender discrimination in Nepal: Does it vary across socio-demographics?’ 1(2) (pp. 61–82) https://doi.org/10.19184/csi.v1i2.25592. – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354238717_Gender_Discrimination_in_Nepal_Does_It_Vary_Across_Socio-_Demographics
Research brief:
Gender discrimination in Nepal is perceived differently by different socio-demographics background groups, and some socio-demographics background group have lack awareness that they are being discriminated against.
This research aimed to understand how far the Nepalese population believe gender discrimination exists within society, and how the perception of gender discrimination then differs across each socio-demographics.
It found that gender, age, urban/rural, education, and economic status all have an impact on gender discrimination in Nepal.
Findings:
This research found that female respondents were 2.
38 times more likely than men to report having experienced or seen a family member experience gender discrimination in the past 12 months.
Women in rural areas, where more traditional norms and values are still practiced, were 1.
17 more likely to encounter gender discrimination compared with urban areas.
In the last 12 months, one in every four young women had been physically assaulted, and have witnessed 3.
3 per cent more physical violence than in urban settings.
Advice:
The government and community based organisations need to consider the different levels of reporting when understanding the prevalence of gender discrimination
- They need to look at which demographics are underreporting gender discrimination and target these areas with awareness programs to increase reporting.
The Women’s Commission, local government organisations and community based organisations need to protect rural and older women to ensure gender justice through policy, plans and programmes
How parents choose to socialise and educate their children is a contributing factor to upholding the patriarchy and enabling gender discrimination
- Changing children’s perception of gender through gender socialisation could be an effective way to eradicate gender discrimination at its root cause
Extra:
This means that women who resided in a rural community were more likely to experience gender-based violence than women in urban settings.
Despite reporting experiences that can be described as gender discrimination, there was a significant lack of awareness of whether gender discrimination exists between the persons residing in rural settings, compared with persons residing in urban settings. This is likely because of the higher education-levels within urban area populations, than those residing in rural areas who do not perceive gender discrimination as a serious an issue. A lack of awareness means some women takes gender discrimination as a normal course of action, and do not then seek support or speak to someone to prevent or end gender-based abuse publicly.
Citizens aged 25-39 years are more likely to report the experiences of gender-based discrimination compared to those 18-24, while those over 35 were even less likely to report experiences of gender-based discrimination. There was a significant lack of gender based awareness measured by women over the age of 39 and living in rural areas. This might be that the age group of 25-39 are a more educated and more critical demographic than older age groups. There is a higher awareness among this age category for the need for equality and gender justice.
More educated women reported witnessing more gender discrimination than less educated women, and higher income women also reported more likely to experience gender-based discrimination than lower income women.
The perceptions and awareness outlined in this research can be seen in the emergence of the growing women empowerment movement and effect of different social institutions such school, college and social medias (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and so on)
For younger generations, there is becoming deeper awareness for gender discrimination across Nepal urban areas because of the impact of education and social media.. Younger generations are becoming more aware of gender justice issues and are raising their voices and speak out against gender discrimination which is created by deeply ingrained traditional cultural norms and practices.