EXPLORING THE ROLE OF EVOLVING GENDER NORMS IN SHAPING ADOLESCENTS’ EXPERIENCES OF VIOLENCE IN PASTORALIST AFAR, ETHIOPIA
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage, Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways In Afar, Ethiopia, entrenched gender and age-based social norms deeply shape adolescents’ experiences of violence. Despite modest generational shifts—especially near urban areas—norms around child marriage (particularly absuma or cousin marriage), FGM/C, and girls’ limited mobility and agency continue to normalize violence and restrict girls’ choices. Addressing these norms requires more than individual awareness; systemic engagement with families, clans, and institutions is essential.
Objectives To examine how evolving gender and generational norms influence adolescents’ exposure to violence in Afar and to assess the adequacy of local, institutional, and national responses.
Methods The study uses mixed methods from the GAGE program, including quantitative surveys with 500 adolescents aged 10–12 and their caregivers, and qualitative interviews with 46 adolescents (10–17), their families, and community members. Tools included vignettes, mapping exercises, and key informant interviews, analyzed through a socio-ecological and capabilities lens.
Intervention Details While not an intervention study, the research assesses local awareness-raising campaigns on child marriage run by government offices and schools (e.g., girls’ clubs). These initiatives are limited in reach and effectiveness, especially in remote areas, and often fail to engage community norms or broader forms of violence.
Results Violence against adolescents is widespread yet underreported. Corporal punishment, peer violence, and gender-based violence—including FGM/C and child marriage—are normalized. Girls face greater restrictions and risks, with few options to resist arranged marriages. Institutional responses are weak due to limited infrastructure, untrained personnel, and community resistance. Legal protections exist but are poorly implemented, and clan mechanisms often override formal systems, reinforcing silence around violence.
Conclusions To prevent violence effectively, responses must be tailored to local contexts and address deeply rooted gender and generational norms. While policy frameworks in Ethiopia are strong on paper, they lack implementation and coordination in places like Afar. A broader, multi-sectoral and community-engaged approach is needed to shift harmful norms and support adolescents’ rights and safety.
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