Society or the Law? “No matter what law comes, this society won’t stop practicing Chhaupadi”: A discussion on the causes and implications of menstrual restrictions in Dailekh District

This chapter explores the lived experiences of menstruation for women and girls in Dailekh district, Karnali Province, Nepal. Menstruation in Nepal is surrounded by myths, restrictions, and taboos, the most severe of which is chhaupadi - the practice of being secluded away from the house for several days every menstrual period. Following a series of chhaupadi-related deaths, enforcing this practice was made illegal in August 2018 and is theoretically punishable by a fine or imprisonment. However, few convictions have been made, and it is unclear if criminalisation is widely recognised. Using data from focus group discussions conducted in 2019, this chapter offers an important insight into why the practice prevails by exploring its causes and consequences. Eight focus group discussions were conducted, four with adolescent girls and four with adult women aged 25-45 years old. Thirty-five adolescent girls and 36 adult women participated in total.