Women Suffer from Four Levels of Discrimination

Although the caste system was made illegal in 1962 in Nepal, it is still very much active throughout the country. The caste system is firmly embedded into Nepali culture in a complex structure that is difficult to untangle. It combines many different elements which strive to maintain a level of inequality and difference between ethnicities and groups based on birth right, ethnicity, occupation, power and financial assets. Although it’s easy for the so called ‘global west’ to criticize the caste system prominent in Asia, in reality the west has a caste system of its own usually referred to as class which is also based on birth right, ethnicity, occupation, power and financial assets. Arguably though it appears easier in the west to climb the social class ladder whereas in Nepal it is determined by birth.

One such group who struggles to shed the stigma cast upon them by the abolished caste system are Dalit’s, the so called ‘untouchable caste’ who are major victims of caste based discrimination. In the Far West hilly District of Doti, where the overall adult literacy rate is 42%, some Dalit women are suffering discrimination three fold; firstly because of their Dalit caste, secondly because they are women and thirdly because their families are infected with HIV/AIDS.
Sashi Sob resides in Doti and is District Chairperson of the Feminist Dalit Organisation, a national organisation which was set up in 1994 to "fight against caste and gender discrimination and to construct a just and equitable society". The Femimist Dalit Organisation is a member of Sankalpa Women’s Alliance for Peace, Justice and Democracy. It has defined itself as “Mission 50/50”, meaning proportionate and representative participation of women at all levels of the peace process and all state structures.

Sashi has noticed a trend in men seeking work outside of Doti to the neighbouring country of India. Local men are migrating to India for seasonal and long term work as labourers and security guards. Whilst working in the major cities of India the Nepali migrants are visiting the local brothels in which they are exposed to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) such as HIV. As the migrant workers are not educated they are clueless to the dangers that they are exposing themselves to and consequently on their return to Doti they risk infecting their wives as well. When the men fall sick they believe that their ancestors are mad at them for visiting the brothels to have sex with prostitutes and are punishing them by making them sick, oblivious to the fact that they have contracted HIV. It is not common practice in Doti for people to seek medical help from health posts and hospitals. Consequently by the time they seek medical help, HIV has already developed into AIDS leading to death.

Sashi recalled the story of one Doti Dalit husband who migrated to Kerala, India and found another wife who he brought back to Doti to join his first wife. He had contracted HIV whilst working in India and had transmitted the disease to his new wife from Kerala; it was not confirmed if he had passed HIV on to his first wife, though the likelihood was high. The arrogance of bringing back a new wife is a good example of how some men regard their wife, i.e. with little respect. In another story Sashi spoke of a Doti wife who, after her husband had died of AIDS, was accused of gulping down her husband. It was not until community mediators became involved that they were able to convince the family of the truth behind the husband’s death.
The majority of men from Doti who migrate to India are Dalit as they are less likely to own land in which they can earn a living and are limited to employment opportunities due to their so called caste. Out of approximately the 800 people that are infected by HIV and AIDS in Doti approximately two thirds are Dalit. For Dalit women whose husbands die from AIDS this adds a forth layer of discrimination against them, i.e. being a widow.

Sashi Sob stated that if there were more employment opportunities for men in Doti then they would not have to migrate to India for work and if there was more awareness raising on safe sex and medical treatment for HIV then this would reduce the risk of infection. She didn’t mention the fact that men were committing adultery by having sex with prostitutes in brothels. Maybe this has been accepted as normal behaviour in Nepal, though it would be a different story if women were committing adultery, another opportunity for discrimination.


Published in The Republica

Inspiring comment by reader: "Hello Ms. Belinfante,I went through your article published in the Republica on July 25,2013 and I wanted to thank you on behalf of every woman struggling to come out of these beliefs and practices.
Be it the sufacial,I also came to realise the underlying oppression of women while studying Feminism, as I am a student of Literature(Arts). I hope that your article has helped a multitude to get inspired and provided the courage to the women power to always fight back!

Thank you for the attempt that you have made to aware people to let woman live peacefully.I look forward to reading your articles soon!!! "