Chhaupadi Pratha: Women’s Experiences and Perceptions about Social Suffering

Abstract

Chhaupadi Pratha, a socio-cultural system, is mostly exercised at the Far Western region of Nepal. The system is linked with biological process of women's menstrual period. Women are kept in small sheds away from home during their menstrual period. Besides difficulties staying in a small hut, they have to suffer from many physical and psychological problems. In that period, they are not allowed to take part in religious ceremonies, family kitchen for nutritious food, and family home for security, and warm. This article attempts to analyze women's experience and perception towards Chhaupadi system. In doing so, it investigates how women are suffering from the Chhaupadi system and its consequences. This ethnographic research employed unstructured in-depth conversations and key informant interviews methods to collect information. This research finds that these women are affected physically and mentally by the practices of Chhaupadi. The practice restricts women's safe live and educational opportunity because they are restricted touching anything during their period. The concept of pollution and purity differentiate the life situation of women which is depended on monthly menstrual bleeding. Menstruating women are believed as polluted that’s why they are forced to live small shed and face various difficulties. Non-menstruating women are believed as a pure. Consequently, their social relationship disturbed by shame and restriction. Living in the Chhaupadi shed brings psychological and physical threats. The discrimination during the periods faced by women is considered as violation of fundamental human rights. Women activists are engaged in campaign against the system.

Chhaupadi practice in Nepal: A literature review

“…Only 7% lived in a separate room inside the house. Other studies (Joshi, 2015;Karki & Khadka, 2019b;Khadka, 2020) also corroborated these findings.…”

“…During their observation of the huts, Amatya et al (2018) found that most of the structures lacked ventilation/windows, electricity, toilets, warm blankets, and mattresses. Many of the huts did not have locks; the doors were narrow, dark, and congested, as was the space inside (Khadka, 2020; Wong, 2018).…”

A harmful religio-cultural practice (Chhaupadi) during menstruation among adolescent girls in Nepal: Prevalence and policies for eradication

“…In the current study, despite being adolescent girls (Dalits, Janajatis and Brahmin/Chhetri), almost all of them had followed the Hindu religion. As Chhaupadi has some religio-cultural misinformation of the Hindu religion, especially in western Nepal where girls are considered as impure and sins during routine period [ 56 ], therefore, are forbidden in many social, cultural, and daily activities [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Adolescent girls may have some fear of being unwell if they touch anyone during the menstruation periods. Previous evidence revealed women could cause harm if they touch any objects or attend any cultural ceremonies during the menstrual period [ 5 , 12 ]. Previous studies from other settings of Nepal [ 7 , 17 , 32 , 46 , 55 , 56 ] and India [ 59 , 60 ] reported similar prohibitions during mensuration.…”

“…In the current study, girls were prohibited from entering the house during their menstrual period. Likewise, in a previous study, girls were forced to do more laborious chores like carrying heavy loads, digging, fetching firewood, and collecting grass [ 12 ]. Such physical activities without providing a nutritious diet indicate an extreme form of violence against women, violation of their self-dignity and their reproductive health rights [ 5 ].…”