Huts as Heritage
Stefanie Lotter explores the role of an architectural concept in the practice of menstrual exclusion in Far Western Nepal
This brief presentation explores how two religious ideals influence the obligation to observe menstrual exclusion in far western Nepal. These ideals are the architectural concept of the domestic mandala, derived from Vastu Shastra, and the concept of ritual impurity (ashaucha), both of which impact the broader concept of cosmic harmony (Dharma Shastra).
Dr Stefanie Lotter shows visual examples of houses in western Nepal and explains how religious beliefs led to the practice of chaupadi, a tradition in which women stay in menstrual huts during their periods. It also discusses how households responded after chaupadi was officially declared a harmful tradition and criminalised in 2018.
Dr. Stefanie Lotter (SOAS, University of London) was a Co-Investigator on the British Academy-funded research project titled 'Dignity Without Danger: Collaboratively Analysing Stigma and Taboos to Develop Innovative Strategies to Address Menstrual Exclusion in Nepal'.
Stefanie will be speaking
LIVE in Daryll Forde Room, 230, 2nd Floor, UCL Anthropology Dept, 14 Taviton St, London WC1H 0BW
ZOOM ID 952 8554 1412 passcode Wawilak
Invite link https://ucl.zoom.us/j/95285541412?pwd=LjI5yIagplvPmFXVwSnLbDbV1xUiep.1
Stefanie Lotter explores the role of an architectural concept in the practice of menstrual exclusion in Far Western Nepal
This brief presentation explores how two religious ideals influence the obligation to observe menstrual exclusion in far western Nepal. These ideals are the architectural concept of the domestic mandala, derived from Vastu Shastra, and the concept of ritual impurity (ashaucha), both of which impact the broader concept of cosmic harmony (Dharma Shastra).
Dr Stefanie Lotter shows visual examples of houses in western Nepal and explains how religious beliefs led to the practice of chaupadi, a tradition in which women stay in menstrual huts during their periods. It also discusses how households responded after chaupadi was officially declared a harmful tradition and criminalised in 2018.
Dr. Stefanie Lotter (SOAS, University of London) was a Co-Investigator on the British Academy-funded research project titled 'Dignity Without Danger: Collaboratively Analysing Stigma and Taboos to Develop Innovative Strategies to Address Menstrual Exclusion in Nepal'.
Stefanie will be speaking
LIVE in Daryll Forde Room, 230, 2nd Floor, UCL Anthropology Dept, 14 Taviton St, London WC1H 0BW
ZOOM ID 952 8554 1412 passcode Wawilak
Invite link https://ucl.zoom.us/j/95285541412?pwd=LjI5yIagplvPmFXVwSnLbDbV1xUiep.1
Good to know
Highlights
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- In person
Location
UCL Anthropology
14 Taviton Street
London WC1H 0BW
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