Key Social Norms Take-aways Deep-rooted gender norms normalize child marriage, restrict girls’ freedoms, and certain forms of GBV, including IPV, often go unreported. Programs should shift these norms through safe, inclusive opportunities for married girls and community-level engagement.

Objectives This study explored the experiences of married Rohingya adolescent girls living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. It aimed to understand how social norms, child marriage, and displacement shape girls’ safety, wellbeing, and life opportunities—and to identify pathways for change.

Methods A mixed-methods approach combined quantitative surveys with 260 adolescent girls and qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with 57 girls, boys, parents, and community members. The quantitative surveys were conducted in 32 camps; of those, three camps were selected for the qualitative interviews. A set of indicators was informed by two of GAGE’s six capability domains: bodily integrity and psychosocial wellbeing. Quantitative data were analyzed using STATA; qualitative transcripts were coded with MAXQDA.
Results Married girls face higher rates of gender-based violence, mental distress, and social isolation than unmarried girls. Cultural and religious norms, particularly purdah, restrict their mobility and opportunities. Some families are beginning to accept women’s participation in work due to financial hardship, creating openings for change. However, married girls are often excluded from both youth and adult programs.

Conclusions Displaced Rohingya girls—especially those who are married—face layered vulnerabilities. With culturally sensitive support, some girls are willing to pursue training or income-generating activities, but few opportunities exist. Programs must be designed to include married girls and engage families and leaders.