How are we failing our daughters?

Parents have the biggest role to play in taking care of the mental health of their children.

A woman’s sexuality has always been a matter of debate in Nepali society. Talking about sex is horrifying for many parents. We secretly hope and believe that our daughters can make wise decisions to not give in to their curiosity about sex before marriage. This belief is deeply engraved in our society, and we pass it on to our daughters through various behavioural and cultural means without actually having to talk about sex or sexuality. The rest of the world has moved past the concept of sexuality while women in Nepal have been struggling to keep up. With society grappling to accept this concept, Nepali women, especially teenagers, have been facing a new form of abuse—an abuse referred to as slut-shaming.