Abstract
Nepal saw a significant increase in women’s participation in politics in 2008. Women won 33% of the seats in the first Constitution Assembly (CA) election held in 2008. It was a historic achievement and a radical transformation in the political sphere of Nepal. Currently, women are appointed in various key positions. This chapter analyzes the complex, multifaceted, and nonlinear nature of the lived experiences of women parliamentarians in Nepal. It also examines whether women’s increased presence in the parliament has made any difference to the political sphere, especially in regard to making key legislative changes. It also aims to shed light on the changing gender relations within the political sphere, with a particular focus on the ways in which male and female lawmakers perceive each other. This chapter is based on author’s interviews with 32 women parliamentarians in Nepal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Acharya, M. (1994). Political participation of women in Nepal. In Barbara J. Nelson & Najma Chowdhury (Eds.), Women and politics worldwide. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Aguirre, D., & Pietropaoli, I. (2008). Gender equality, development and transitional justice: The case of Nepal. The International Journal of Trasitional Justice, 2(3), 356–377.
Central Bureau of Statistics. (2011). Population census 2011. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal.
Cottle, D., & Keys, A. (2007). The Maoist conflict in Nepal: A Himalayan prediction? Australian Journal of International Affairs, 61(2), 168–174.
Frieden, J. (2012). A donor’s perspective on aid and conflict. In S. V. Einsiedel, D. M. Malone, & S. Pradhan (Eds.), Nepal in transition: From people’s war to fragile peace. Cambridge, USA: Cambridge University Press.
Hatlebakk, M. (2010). Maoist control and level of civil conflict in Nepal. South Asian Economic Journal, 11(1), 99–110.
Haviland, C. S. (2015, September 19). Why is Nepal’s new constitution controversial? Retrieved February 4, 2017 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34280015.
IDEA. (2011). Women members of the constituent assembly: A study on contribution of women in constitution making in Nepal. Kathmandu. Full report available at http://www.idea.int/publications/women-members-of-the-constituent-assembly/index.cfm.
Jha, H. B. (2015, September 24). Nepal’s new constitution: An analysis from the Madheshi perspective. Retrieved February 4, 2015, from http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/NepalsNewConstitution_hbjha_240915.
Muluki, A. (2020). (General code 1963) The Government of Nepal, available at http://www.equalrightstrust.org/ertdocumentbank//muluki-ain.pdf.
Routledge, P. (2010). Nineteen days in April: Urban protest and democracy in Nepal. Urban Studies, 47(6), 1279–1299.
Singh, M. M. (2013). Forever incomplete: The story of Nepal. New Delhi: Sage.
Tamang, S. (2009). The politics of conflict and difference or the difference of conflict in politics: The women’s movement in Nepal. Feminist Review, 91, 61–80.
Thapa, D. (2012). The making of the Maoist insurgency. In S. V. Einsiedel, D. M. Malone, & S. Pradhan (Eds.), Nepal in transition: From people’s war to fragile peace. Cambridge, USA: Cambridge University Press.
Thapa, G. B., & Sharma, J. (2009). From insurgency to democracy: The challenges of peace and democracy-building in Nepal. International Political Science Review, 30 (2), 205–219. The Muluki Ain (General Code) Retrieved February 6, 2017 from http://nepalconflictreport.ohchr.org/files/docs/1963-04-12_legal_govt-of-nepal_eng.pdf.
UNRHCO. (2011). Chaupadi in the far-West. Kathmandu: UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office.
Whelpton, J. (2005). A history of Nepal. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Yadav, P. (2016). Social transformation in post-conflict Nepal: A gender perspective. London and New York: Routledge.
Yami, H. (2007). People’s war and women’s liberation in Nepal. Kathmandu: Janadhwani Publication.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Yadav, P. (2018). Women in the Parliament: Changing Gender Dynamics in the Political Sphere in Nepal. In: Ahmed, N. (eds) Women in Governing Institutions in South Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57475-2_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57475-2_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57474-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57475-2
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)