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Nepal Supreme Court Says Infertile Women Aren't Damaged Goods
Deepti Lamba
Women in Nepal can finally breathe in the sweet smell of gradual emancipation.
Last year, on the 15th of September the Nepal Supreme Court demanded that the custom of shunting women to the cow sheds during their menstrual period as practiced in Western Nepal be done away with.
Recently the court ruled that the law where men were given legitimate grounds to seek divorce on the grounds of Infertility be scrapped.
While the laws of the land may be slowly working in favor of granting women equal rights, what is of equal importance is bringing awareness amongst the poor villages in Nepal where women are treated as second class citizens.
At the same time, the concept of women being dirty during their periods is a myth that continues to prevail not only in Nepal but also in India too. Women are not supposed to visit their puja rooms, temples, some continue to be barred from entering their kitchens and others while allowed to do all the above (except visiting the temples) continue to believe that they should not touch pickle jars when they are chuming.
These seemingly innocuous myths continue to thrive even amongst the educated urban Indians.
It is to our disadvantage that we, as women, buy into these archaic myths of impurity whereas menstrual days are signs of womanhood and should be celebrated with gusto as is done in certain matriarchal cultures where celebrations are held when a young girl starts menstruating.
What is ironic here is that women are shunted for the very mechanism that carries the name of the family forward and despite advances in science many face the wrath for being 'infertile' or for producing girls.
And in these two countries where the worship of female deities is popular to treat their human reflection smells of mendacity and cowardice. These shackles of obsolete traditions can only be broken by women themselves. After all there is much truth to the saying - A woman is another's biggest enemy.
Many women buy into these fallacies and are more strict in the enforcement of these customs and laws than men or conspire along with them.
We need to empower our weaker sisters to say No and to help those in places of power like mothers and mothers-in-law empower and support their daughters and daughters-in-law.
Whether it be the bold action of visiting the temple while menstruating or not letting the male members switch channels when a sanitary napkin or tampon ad comes we all can bring about a change in thinking bit by bit by being more vocal within our own homes and communities.
Nepal Supreme Court Says Infertile Women Aren't Damaged Goods
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kela
April 4, 2007
12:47 AM
well it just goes to show Hinduism is a backward pagan form of worship.hinduism is a myth in itself so it really makes no senses pointing myths within myths
kela
April 4, 2007
12:53 AM
seriously are tampons sold in India ?i've never seen an ad for them.Foreign women are always laughing over the fact that indian women don't use tampons
kela
April 4, 2007
12:53 AM
seriously are tampons sold in India ?i've never seen an ad for them.Foreign women are always laughing over the fact that indian women don't use tampons
Chandra
April 4, 2007
07:44 AM
Kela
You follow a misguided religion like christianity. Its time for you to clear up your mental decadence by accepting hinduism. That is the only way for your salvation.
rgds
Chandra
April 4, 2007
07:47 AM
Kela
This is what the bible says about women with periods
Leviticus 15:19-30
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness
Ezekiel 18:5-6
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, and hath not ... come near to a menstruous woman.....
I am telling you, its time for you to move to Hinduism. You will be saved from christian decadence.
rgds
kela
April 4, 2007
08:10 AM
so i guess the hindus learnt all that from the bible,its a shame that they still cling onto it when almost all the christian have moved forward.Those are old books of the bible and its they're just supposed to be a guide not rule.It's not like such women would be barred from attending church like its done among hindus
Chandra
April 4, 2007
08:51 AM
Kela
If you disagree with the bible, you should be classified as an atheist.
Anyway,your decadent mind needs to saved,come over to Hinduism. You will be saved.
rgds
kela
April 4, 2007
09:12 AM
Chandra : i don't think you are qualified to save me.We syrian christians are Brahmin converts so technically I should dictate and you follow.You have no right to question a brahman.
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