Nepal Himalaya: Women, Politics, and Administration

The paper is a qualitative analysis of the status of women and women in politics and administration in Nepal Himalaya. The paper reviews data on women in civil service and in administrative levels. Looking at women in Nepali politics, policy on women, and women in administration, the paper highlights some social and cultural issues that have “othered” women as the “second sex.” As the country is heading towards modernity, gender friendly approaches are being instituted. Although some data reflects the progress of women’s status and their increasing political and administrative participation, the data is insufficient to predict if there is democratic gender practices in political and administrative levels. The political and administrative culture of Nepal Himalaya can be changed only by promoting gender practices and by deconstructing gender images in administrative culture. This is possible through a representative bureaucracy and an enforcement of democratic policies. The paper will discuss the social constructionist view of policy, gender, and culture and how the deconstruction of gender images help women better their administrative positions