My thesis examines the persistence of Chhaupadi, an extreme form of menstrual exile practiced in parts of Nepal, despite its criminalization. Using a mixed-methods approach, I analyze national demographic and health survey data alongside interviews with NGOs, policymakers, and local experts to identify the social, institutional, and legal factors that sustain the practice. Situating Chhaupadi within a comparative framework that includes other criminalized gender-based practices such as female genital cutting and dowry-related violence, the project evaluates why formal legal bans often fail to dismantle deeply entrenched gender norms and proposes pathways for more effective, rights-based intervention.