Fifteen-year-old Prasiddhi Gautam, a student in Kathmandu, is always active in school, plugged into the digital world, and eager to learn. It wasn't until she participated in a program at Women LEAD Nepal that she had this striking realization — introspectively, she asked herself, “Who do I look up to?”

At the event, she found herself in a room filled with powerful, accomplished women—a panel of leaders unlike any she had seen before. Until that moment, female leadership had felt distant, almost invisible. The experience shifted something in her. “It helped me realize how often female role models are missing from textbooks, mainstream media, and daily conversations,” she says. 

Nepal faces a clear problem: the visibility of female role models remains low. Women's participation is low in certain fields, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 

Niraj Devkota, a 21-year-old IT student, noted that the visibility of female role models seems to depend on the field. He could easily name women he respects in education, healthcare, and social work. “But in IT, I can’t think of anyone,” he said. “It’s changing now, though, as more young women are stepping into this space.”

In sectors like politics, women are present but face harsh criticism, are undermined, and are often pushed aside. As a result, young women searching for relatable leaders mostly see men, whose journeys often differ from those that women are likely to experience.

Moxada Tuladhar, a 21-year-old student of Development Studies, shares similar concerns that outdated views often shape the portrayal of female political figures. “They get so much negative attention,” she said. “Politics still feels old, traditional, and dominated by men. It doesn’t connect with our generation.”

“Leadership looks different for women, and unless we see it around us, it’s difficult to imagine ourselves in those roles,” said Hima Bista, Executive Director at Women LEAD Nepal. Having worked in the development sector for over 24 years, she has seen firsthand how challenging it is for young women to visualize success without female role models.

Bista observes that young women today are becoming more outspoken and confident, daring to question outdated norms. “I see a shift—girls are now unafraid to take space and speak up. But they need to see people like them succeed to truly believe it's possible,” she added. Their stories must be celebrated and amplified.

A Generation Ready for More

Young people across Nepal are growing aware of this gap. Even with access to a decentralized and accessible platform across the internet, which has the potential to bring female role models forward, representation remains minimal. Like Gautam, the younger generation today is realizing this and how Nepal is lacking role models. 

When thinking about who she’d introduce to younger girls, Barada Tuladhar (21), a student of Development Finance, named Kamala Harris. Not because of her status, but because she sees her as confident, well-spoken, and grounded in purpose. Yet, she couldn’t name a single Nepali female role model.

Barada points out that stereotyping and gender bias are not just reflected but often amplified online, limiting authentic representation.

For Maheen Sardar (21), a Pakistani student studying Development Studies in Kathmandu, “Many women, like Greta Thunberg and Benazir Bhutto, who stand on their beliefs unapologetically despite facing scrutiny. But their stories are often overshadowed by online narratives like red pill content that dismiss women and undermine their work and voices.” 

She adds, “Having female role models can help the younger generation see them as empowered individuals, with independent identities, capable of anything and not just in a conventional role or as someone’s mom, sister, daughter, or wife.”

Many other young students also see the need to celebrate individuals like Thunberg from Nepal as role models. This shows the growing awareness that women who act to change are faced with scrutiny, criticism, and leg-pulling from powerful individuals in society in general, and that their voices deserve the spotlight to build a more equal society.

The same is seen when women in Nepali society speak up about issues in their communities. Anjana Luitel, Co-Founder of Reclaiming Narratives and Project Officer at ActionAid Denmark, says that, “If women step out and talk about societal issues, our society reacts by harassing them and drowning out their voices with criticism. We shy away from discussing these issues, making few safe spaces for women to come forward, limited to a few discussion networks. 

Why So Many Women Remain Unseen

The lack of visible female role models is not about the absence of inspiring women; it’s about the barriers that keep them out of sight. These barriers are deeply rooted in cultural beliefs, societal expectations, and systemic inequality.

According to Luitel, “Even when women achieve remarkable things, their stories are rarely told. Captain Priya Adhikari, Nepal’s first female helicopter pilot who flies rescue missions in the Everest region, is a prime example. Her work is extraordinary, but it remains largely underreported.” 

Luitel explains that one common issue is impostor syndrome. “Many women feel they’re not good enough or don’t belong, even when they’re qualified,” she said. This often stems from how society defines women’s roles, from education systems to outdated laws and family expectations.

She added, “The women and girls we see and hear about are belittled, their value reduced to objectification, which results in internalization of an objectified image of what female representation looks like for women and girls.”

Nepal’s patriarchal system further deepens this problem. Luitel said, “Even as more girls complete school, many still face early marriage or domestic violence, limiting their freedom and access to opportunity. Many are still forced to tolerate abuse or suppress their aspirations.”

Socio-political activist and mental health mentor Ranju Darshana points out that women’s labor, especially caregiving, is undervalued and underpaid. “In other countries, caregiving is honored and compensated,” she said. “In Nepal, it’s overlooked.”

Luited adds, “And the gender pay gap persists across nearly every profession,” noting how recognition is scarce for those who dare to continue or make a change.

Changing the Narrative

Luitel co-founded Reclaiming Narratives with Luna Bhattarai because they realized how women were portrayed in mainstream media, and they wanted to change the ongoing narrative around women. “Most stories about women focused on them as victims,” she said, “But we saw countless women doing transformative work, often unrecognized, and we knew those stories needed to be told.”

Hima Bista similarly stated the need to reclaim the narrative, and says, “We need to bring more trailblazing women forward, from their specialized fields working with so much passion and curiosity.” She highlighted leaders like Tripti Rai, Country Director at Oxfam, and Brinda Magar, UNDP’s Governance Policy Advisor, among others, as figures who deserve more visibility, as well as others working in different sectors across Nepal, for younger females to be inspired.”

“For me, a role model is someone who brings change, not necessarily someone with a title,” Luitel added to the need to bring more local names forward. “One example is Marani Devi, a female health volunteer from Mahottari, who was falsely accused of witchcraft 24 years ago. She resisted the stigma and continued her work, inspiring others in her community. More people need to hear her story.”

Luitel frames power in three levels: visible, hidden, and invisible. “The hardest one to change is the invisible,” she said. “Even if laws change, society doesn’t always follow. And women who speak out face harassment. We need to invest in education and values that truly empower girls to challenge the status quo.”

So far, with the initiative, they have helped document more than 60 stories of women from marginalized communities, Dalits, LGBTQ+ individuals, women with disabilities, and those from remote regions of Nepal. But limited funding and access make it difficult to reach some areas, especially hill districts, to cover stories from these regions.

Building Bridges: Solutions for an Unbiased Future

Drawing from her own experience, Darshana entered politics at 17 and ran for Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan at 21. Her early entry into public life was rare, but she believes it shouldn’t be. “We need to start early. The school system must offer leadership opportunities, strong education, and networks to build confidence,” she said. 

She emphasizes the importance of early leadership development and structural reform. Her early political engagement serves as an example. “My presence helped many young women find their voice, but there were only a countable number of female leaders to look up to, to be inspired by.” 

But she believes it can change with the school system, while providing young girls with mentorship, networking, and leadership opportunities from the very beginning. Darshana also highlights the need to challenge Nepal’s entrenched patriarchal norms and advocates for stronger enforcement of women’s legal rights, including inheritance and workplace equality. 

Luitel also stresses the need for deeper political education that fosters critical thinking about rights and citizenship, beyond surface-level awareness. “We need long-term, deep-rooted education to empower women as active citizens,” Luitel explains, highlighting the importance of personal empowerment, how women see themselves affects wider societal change, and calls for local programs that provide financial literacy and leadership skills to women. 

Only by combining early leadership opportunities, education reform, storytelling that celebrates diverse women, and sustained policy enforcement, Nepal can unlock the full potential of its women and girls, paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable future. Luitel concludes, “Results might not be immediate,  but changes will happen with investments in education and stronger policies”.