Women as educative agents and public pedagogues: Pathways toward gender-inclusive heritage activism in music and music education in Nepal

This research is a substudy of the project amplifyHer, funded by the DEVELOP2 (Research Council of Finland). This doctoral study’s objective is to address the gender bias in Nepali music culture and the lack of discussion globally on gender in heritage activism toward sustainability. The research aligns with Finland’s emphasis on the UN’s Agenda 2030 of gender equality and equality within and among countries. Two main research questions guide the study: 1) How do Nepali female music practitioners perceive their gendered roles within their music heritage, and what politics do they engage with as they negotiate stigmatised practices and social expectations? and 2) How can gender-inclusive heritage activism and community interventions transform the boundaries of patriarchal music practices? The transdisciplinary research draws from the fields of music-education, feminist theories, placemaking in music heritage studies, heritage activism, applied-ethnomusicology, systems thinking, and public pedagogy. Experimental methods (eg. photovoice) will be used to translate experience into actionable knowledge. Qualitative approaches (eg. narrative analysis) will be used in the analysis. The study will demonstrate the importance of gender-inclusive heritage activism; systems understanding of gender exclusion in Nepal; and the socially transformative potential of female public music performance where women are seen as educative agents.

Keywords: Gender, Heritage Activism, Music Heritage, Placemaking, Public Pedagogy

Pushpa Palanchoke is a doctoral student in the Research Study Programme at the MuTri Doctoral School.