Statues of Women in Nepalese Muslim Society

This study explores the social, cultural, and religious positions of women in Nepalese Muslim society through an interdisciplinary and qualitative lens. Focusing on lived experiences, community norms, and institutional influences, the research investigates how Muslim women in Nepal navigate their identities amidst religious expectations, traditional customs, and modern societal changes. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with Muslim women across diverse regions of Nepal, the paper highlights the intersections of gender, faith, and social structures. Durkheim’s sociological theory of social facts is employed to examine how religious norms and patriarchal values shape women's roles and statuses within family, education, and public representation. The findings reveal both structural constraints and personal agency, showing how women negotiate, resist, or adapt to socioreligious norms in nuanced ways. This research contributes to broader academic conversations on gender in South Asian Muslim societies and aims to fill the empirical and methodological gap in Nepali Muslim women's studies. Implications are drawn for gender equity, policy reform, and culturally contextualized feminist discourse in Nepal. The paper aims to offer actionable insights for scholars, civil society actors, and policymakers working in the intersections of religion, gender, and minority rights.