Breaking the Silence


Breaking the Silence is a special collaboration with Dignity Without Danger: Menstruation in Nepal. We recently had to opportunity to visit communities in the western Nepal listening to mostly women and girls on various topics ranging from their lives, patriarchy, taboos, traditions, and menstrual practices. These lived experiences shed light, not only on the unjust existing social ills in our societies but also reveal how solidarity amongst women, even at times imperfect, is bringing about enduring changes they wish for their sons and daughters.


“I am happy spending time in the forest. Although I write my name with great difficulty and I cannot read, ...

“There was a Badshah in Delhi, Wahad Ali Khan. A British man came to him and begged for some land. ...

“I have no authority to declare that the blood coming from a woman is impure when I know that I ...

“We live around the Hindus. So we also celebrate Dashain and Tihar. We also accept the Devis and the Deutas. ...

(Part 1/2) “I have always fought for my rights. I could see that as a daughter I was treated differently. ...

(Part 2/2) “People fear the Devis and the Deutas. And different rules were made. These rules were said to ensure ...

(Part 1/2) “During the time of the month, women were not allowed in for 10 days. I was of the ...

(Part 2/2) “But just because we have formed a collective opinion, the women are not going to come in and ...

(Part 1/2) “I was 14 years old. They did not allow me to come to the garden. I lived in ...

(Part 2/2) “My husband’s ancestral village is Bajhang and I am from Achham. When I came to his house after ...

“I am illiterate because we were not given a direction. The direction for us was to collect grass, wood, and ...

(Part 1/2) “When I came here to my husband’s house after marriage, I was only 16. I did not know ...

(Part 2/2) “During menstruation, the women in the house, we sleep in our own beds, in our own room. I ...

“In my parent’s village, people strictly abided Chau Pratha. Girls who were menstruating were prohibited from going to school for ...

(Part 1/2) “My life changed when my brother got electrocuted and died. I was 10. Up until then, I was ...

“I have a small bed. On the 4th day, I wash my clothes and let them dry in the sun. ...