How social change occurs: Women's agentic negotiation and defiance of Chhaupadi practice

Abstract

This study examines how the practice of Chhaupadi, a traditional Nepalese custom that restricts menstruating women from participating in their daily activities, is being challenged and negotiated by women. A thorough analysis utilized interview data from 11 women in Dhanshingpur village in Nepal, revealing that Chhaupadi is not an unchanging cultural norm. Instead, it undergoes agentic actions—scrutiny, questioning, challenge, and negotiation by women. Those adhering to the practice actively negotiated its extent, not passively accepting societal norms. Factors like new information, external influences, community values, family relationships, and personal beliefs played a role. Changes in Chhaupadi rules indicate a shift toward flexibility. Women's agentic actions, leveraging circumstances to tailor the practice to their preferences, result in a more adaptable compliance among Nepalese women.