Abstract
Previous research on menstruation in Nepal has focused on severe forms of menstrual customs, emphasizing hygiene and sanitation. Little research attends to women's compliance and negotiation of menstrual practices. We employ qualitative analysis to examine how compliance with and negotiation of menstrual customs changes over a woman's lifetime. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 71 women living in urban Kathmandu, Nepal, we argue that women engage in the ‘patriarchal bargain’ when making strategic choices regarding which menstrual practices to follow. Menstrual customs are stringent during menarche, with flexibility granted to married women with children. Women's ability to negotiate practices increases with age, education, income, and when they maintain control over their residence. Women also follow menstrual practices to preserve their image as virtuous women and access resources. The current study highlights how women gain agency within concrete gendered constraints.
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