KATHMANDU, Nepal — High in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, Druk Amitabha Nunnery is home to 800 nuns of the Drukpa Order of Himalayan Buddhism.

These nuns have practiced kung fu most days of the week for years, in part for self-defense, in part for their health, and most importantly, to show the girls and women of this mountainous region that gender equality is possible.

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Jigme Lhamo and Jigme Yamgchen Ghamo — two nuns who have called this place home since they were little girls — sat in front of their phone screens in their shared rooms, headphones in their ears, and told me the stories of their journey to becoming Kung Fu Nuns.

“Since I was little, gender equality caught my attention, even though I was lucky to grow up in a family with girls only and where our parents supported us,” said Jigme Lhamo, who is now 31.

Originally from Himachal Pradesh in India, she said families in her area sent their sons to better schools, while the girls stayed to study in the villages. Although there have been advancements in gender equality in the Himalayas, the issue remains a challenge.

Child marriage is still common in India and Nepal — 35% of girls marry before the age of 18 in Nepal. Social norms and traditional gender roles make it difficult for girls to access education and later employment opportunities.

Women in Himalayan households often experience work overload and a lack of access to resources, including land. Domestic violence and human trafficking are other threats in the region.

These nuns are raising awareness of all these issues.

When Jigme Lhamo was just 12, she attended a teaching by His........

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