ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the women's participation in this non-traditional role has not only changed the lives of the women themselves but has also enabled them to become agents for social change. Gender segregation in occupations is an established discourse. It is widely practiced in every sector of society, from economics to politics, from religion to culture. The chapter is based on interviews with 10 women tempo drivers in Kathmandu. In their experience as tempo drivers women have experienced both autonomy and challenges, however their participation in a non-traditional role certainly has expanded the space for women more generally, and it is contributing to the changing discourse of womanhood in Nepal. Despite the challenges women face in this profession, they seemed to give greater value to the achievements they have gained. Working outside the home and earning an independent income tend to have a clear impact on enhancing the social standing of a woman in the household and the society.
