Riding Against the Tide: Empowerment of Women Motorcycle Riders in Kathmandu

• In Event: 50409 - Regular Session on Gender: Challenging Gender

Abstract

The rise of ride-hailing services that use motorbikes has created new urban opportunities in the transportation sector in Nepal, with an increasing number of women participating as riders. These platforms offer flexible income through immediate financial rewards by enabling women to transcend traditional domestic roles and challenge deep-rooted gendered norms. This study investigates the experiences of women riders in Kathmandu and explores their newfound agency. It examines how ride-hailing services facilitate empowerment and the attainment or maintenance of middle-class aspirations. Despite the inherent risks of violence and abuse, these women navigate masculinized spaces by confronting patriarchal norms. The data were drawn from 21 in-depth interviews with women motorcycle riders. Additionally, I attended their social events and followed their conversations in their social media groups. I also gained information through engaging in several conversations about their ride hailing experiences during multiple rides I utilized. The analysis includes the riders’ narratives of both individual empowerment in terms of economic growth and collective development through organized efforts for helping each other among riders and advocating for policy change. The study demonstrates how participation in ride-hailing dismantles multiple barriers and works toward promoting gender inclusivity. The findings show that by empowering women through mobility and economic engagement, the ride hailing services provide a critical avenue for the participants to confront the patriarchal norms of Nepali society. Finally, the findings emphasize the transformative potential of ride-hailing services in redefining gender roles and broadening the understanding of the workplace through empowerment in the digital age.

Author

• Gita Neupane