This research paper examines how an empowerment perspective can provide insight into women’s citizenship in the context of menstrual seclusion. Within the field of development, the goal of many civil society actors is to empower women through their intervention efforts. This objective frequently makes empowerment seem like a straightforward process. However, there are numerous factors to consider when investigating women’s status in the complex environment of menstrual seclusion in Nepal. By incorporating evidence from 17 semi-structured interviews, four documents, and one focus group discussion with intervention actors and women practising menstrual seclusion, this study demonstrates how women can become empowered in this setting. The material is evaluated through a thematic analysis within the empowerment framework and contextualised through feminist theory. The findings indicate that actors solely focus on certain components of empowerment although holistic and context-driven efforts are needed. This research paper concludes that in order to generate development outcomes, empowerment efforts need to target all aspects of women’s participation to have a larger effect on their active citizenship in this setting.