A reflection on the limits of Nepali women’s national involvement despite their economic contribution.
Namaste.
If it were not for the inspirational women I met during my staying in Nepal, this thesis could never have existed. If it were not for their openness and inclusion in wich they allowed me to explore both positive and negative aspects of their microcosm, their living envi-ronment, I would have never understood the (subtle) difficulties they are facing everyday. To be honest, I had absolutely no clue what to expect from Nepal. The concept of the studio on Continuity and Identity had always fascinated me in previous design projects, so to end my architectural education in this specific field only seemed logical. However, the interest in local (building) cultures and materials was surpassed by the fierce spirit of women I met throughout this ‘school trip’. Especially my staying in Jugal profoundly changed my vision on what to do with this master dissertation. I witnessed an imbalance in gender equality despite the clear presence of female authority, and I could not grasp the intricacy of the situation. These women seemed like running the country, yet at the same time they would resign to a certain silence and the acceptance of a mere passive participation in national representation or acknowledgement. I would like to thank Devaka Kumari Shrestha in particular for all the inspiration she gave me. She is the real fundament of this master’s thesis.