How Nepali Women Find Freedom Through Mountain Biking

This Thursday, celebrate International Women's Day by watching a special online premiere of Moksha. A documentary produced by AndShesDopeToo, Moksha focuses on three Nepali women breaking through cultural barriers to spread their love of mountain biking.

In Nepal, the overarching societal expectation of young women is to be nothing more than a married housewife. For Roja, Usha, and Nishma they’re not accepting the societal norm. Choosing to fight for gender equity through two wheels, these lady shredders are Nepal’s first ever female MBLA certified mountain bike guides and racers.

"Mountain biking helps to bring everyone together in one community. You don't feel like anyone is better, you feel like everyone is equal." -Usha, AndShesDopeToo Photo

A sport that we often simply see as recreation now serves as method of freedom for girls in a deeply rooted patriarchal culture, opening the door for sisterhood, upward mobility, and adventure.

“We really wanted to create a film that focused on our mission: the support of all women everywhere. And from the very beginning I don't think that a single member of our team was interested in just making another adventure film for the sake of making an adventure film," said Taylor Killian, Co-Founder of AndShesDopeToo, in a press release. 

"I want to make myself and family proud and let them know I can earn a living by staying and working in Nepal as a woman in the outdoor industry, rather than taking the path choose by so many youth in my country..to leave, study abroad and never come back." - Roja, AndShesDopeToo Photo

"We wanted to make a film about the coming together of women, and women coming into their power," Killian continued. "And we feel it our privilege to highlight, Usha, Nishma, and Roza, three pioneers in our current age and industry”

"After this trip, Roja, Usha and I have become sisters. We now express ourselves openly, we aren't jealous. We are supportive. We ride together. This is important to grow the sisterhood." -Nishma, AndShesDopeToo Photo