Freshly washed clothing could be seen drying in the sun from a distance. It was the first week of Magh (January 23), and the skies were clear. On that sunny but cold day, Milan Gurung was doing dishes in freezing water.

Summary:

The article highlights the significant but often unrecognized contributions of Nepali women to the country’s care economy through unpaid household and caregiving work. Women like Milan Gurung, Shobha Nepali, and Pramila Ram spend long hours cooking, cleaning, raising children, and managing household chores without any salary or formal recognition. Despite the physical toll and exhaustion, their labor supports families and the broader economy. According to data, women perform about 85% of unpaid care work in Nepal, contributing nearly 32% to the economy, yet this work is not counted in GDP or formally acknowledged. Activists and economists stress that care work is crucial for sustaining the labor force and economy but remains invisible due to social norms framing it as women’s responsibility rather than economic labor.

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