Public Perceptions and Social Norms Influencing Violence Contemplation and Perpetration Against Sexual and Gender Minorities in Rwanda
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways The study shows that social norms—particularly heteronormativity, stigma, and discriminatory community attitudes—play a central role in shaping both the contemplation and perpetration of violence against sexual and gender minorities in Rwanda. Drawing on norm-centered stigma theory, the findings highlight how both descriptive norms (what people perceive others do) and injunctive norms (what people believe is socially acceptable) normalize violence by framing LGBTQ+ identities as deviant. The discussion emphasizes that when discriminatory attitudes are widespread and reinforced through cultural, religious, and institutional contexts, violence becomes socially sanctioned or expected. Thus, shifting harmful norms—rather than only addressing individual attitudes—is critical to reducing violence.
Objectives This study aims to examine public perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and social norms related to LGBTQ+ individuals in Rwanda, and to assess how these factors are associated with the contemplation and perpetration of physical and psychological violence.
Methods The study uses quantitative data from a cross-sectional survey of 1,254 members of the general public across six districts in Rwanda. Data were collected through face-to-face structured questionnaires measuring attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions toward LGBTQ+ individuals. Social norms were operationalized through multiple indices, including perceived community acceptance, discriminatory beliefs, individual-level acceptance, views on same-sex acts, beliefs about sexual orientation as a choice, and attitudes toward same-sex unions and rights. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess associations between these norm-related factors and both violence contemplation and perpetration.
Results Discriminatory attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals were widespread. Higher levels of negative perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes were consistently associated with increased likelihood of both physical and psychological violence perpetration and contemplation. For example, stronger negative views on same-sex relationships, beliefs that sexual orientation is a choice, and perceptions of low community acceptance significantly increased the risk of violence. Participants who had perpetrated or contemplated violence scored higher across all norm-related measures. Notably, awareness of LGBTQ+ rights was associated with lower likelihood of violence.
Conclusions The study concludes that violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in Rwanda is deeply rooted in socially shared norms and stigma. Discriminatory beliefs and perceived community attitudes reinforce a social environment where violence is normalized and justified. Effective interventions must therefore target social norms at multiple levels—through education, policy change, and community engagement—to challenge stigma and promote acceptance. Without transforming these broader normative systems, efforts to reduce violence are unlikely to be sustained.
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