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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Sorrow And Strength A compendium of previously
published articles highlights the status of women By A CORRESSPONDENT Many books, research papers and news stories have highlighted the hardships Nepalese women face in everyday life. Since media coverage on their plight tends to fade over time, the imperative of sustained attention acquires added urgency. Few publications have documented the cycle of violence and discrimination against women with a long-term perspective. Published by Sancharika Samuha, a non-governmental organization working alongside the Nepalese media to promote mass awareness of gender issues and to discourage misrepresentative or stereotypical portrayal of women, "Mother, Sister, Daughter" explains women's problems from a variety of angles. The book is divided into six sections that explain, among other things, women's way of life, challenges, discrimination and achievements. The first section consists of articles on inequality sanctioned by society, including the life of village girls, early marriage and misery caused by social inequality. The topic of cultural control describes how women are still compelled to spend their life in destitution. Forced marriage, polyandry, flesh trade and discrimination during menstruation are among the issues highlighted. As a large number of Nepalese women are victims of discrimination and violence, the book compiles published articles on these very issues. From the untimely death of pregnant women to lack of health facilities for those who need them the most, the collection describes painful experiences in detail. "In South Asia, including Nepal, gender equality and gender justice are not yet realities, but the media can be a forceful tool in efforts to achieve these," says Chandni Joshi, Regional Director of the United Nations Development Fund For Women (UNIFEM), South Asia in the foreword. "Sancharika Samuha has compiled this series of newspaper articles on such diverse issues as society, culture, health, violence and discrimination, and empowerment, to give a reflection of the media's current portrayal of women in Nepal. They present case of journalists who have striven to highlight the problems and concerns of women, and who have sought to emphasize the all-too-important role of women's participation in development activities, the obstacles they face, and what society can do to help." The book also contains stories of women who struggled long to achieve equality. In "Women Empowered," the articles show the success of women in different areas. While telling the story of the first woman trolley bus driver, the book surveys the role and participation of women in social work, forest preservation, land reform and micro-credit. The last chapter contains thought-provoking articles on critical issues concerning the status of women. Thanks to the effort of Sancharika Samuha, one can find in a single volume important write-ups on women scattered across different magazines over time. "Our sincere gratitude also goes to Chandni Joshi, regional director of UNIFEM South Asia, for writing the foreword for this book. Being a Nepali herself she is well aware of kinds of discrimination and violence that Nepali women face, and with her Sancharika Samuha passionately shares a vision of a gender violence free society," said Bandana Rana, executive president, Sancharika Samuha. The publication brings new insights into the situation of women in Nepal and underscores how the media can spur efforts to improve the existing knowledge base by offering alternative solutions and new ideas. Mother, Sister, Daughter |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
