Case Study

WHO IS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

Widowed women in Nepal are considered as bearers of ill-fortune, bad omen and her presence are not welcomed in social, religious and other events. This is due to the prevailing ideology, which stem from deep-rooted patriarchal values. These values are manifested in all walks of life. Therefore we have identified the following aspects of society as responsible and accountable to the treatment and fate of single women.

Families:

The prevailing belief is that the boy-child is seen as a caretaker of the parents in their old age and a responsible person of the household, while the girl-child is seen as someone to be married off. Therefore parents always treat a girl-child as another's property Thus they sow the seeds of insecurity and inability in her mind, and thus conditions her to lack self confidence and self esteem and thus are easy victims of brutalities.

Society:

As mentioned, patriarchal values pervade all levels of our society. This ideology is rampant and delegates women to a lower status. Thus the “lower status” of the women and the stigma and discrimination attached to single women, the injustice and agony faced by single women is apparent. Therefore, the humiliation of the single women by the society is common and has come to be accepted as something ‘taken for granted'.

Religious Beliefs:

Religion is an integral part of Nepalese society. However, religious beliefs have been truncated to reinforce patriarchal values. As such, most of the religion considers single women as a harbinger of ill-omen, thereby setting strict guidelines in her day to day life.

The Media:

Media in most cases is not sensitized on the issues of single women. Many media stories with the exception of a few, have added more to the plight of the single women (for instance, reports on victims of harassments rather than the perpetrators).The media presents women as a helpless victim of male violation ,which cannot be protest sets stereotypes in the society, which is very difficult to overcome.

Women:

Women themselves are responsible for the fate of their gender. The women within the family are the main silent witnesses of atrocities practiced on single women. Their silence in the face of such atrocities lends credence to the acts being perpetrated on them. Sometimes, brutalities on single women occurs through other women in their families as well.