Jarod
Jarod asked Nicholas D. Kristof:

I am planning on creating and teaching a two week course on gender equality in Nepal later this year. I have taught in Nepal before but never this subject. Would you have any advice as how best to promote/teach gender equality without being offensive to culture or custom?

Nicholas D. Kristof This is ticklish, but I would suggest talking about your beliefs, and about facts, without criticizing local beliefs. So you can talk about the benefits to a family and a country from educating girls, citing Bangladesh vs. Pakistan as examples (Bangladesh educated girls, Pakistan didn't, and Bangladesh benefited hugely as a result). You can talk frankly about sex trafficking issues that afflict Nepal and the links to corruption, inviting discussion to break taboos. I think discussions of gender tend to work best when it's not seen as Western values vs. local values but rather as local change-makers vs. traditionalists. Good luck!

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