Social and gender norms informing, voicing, and reporting against sexual harassment among domestic workers in Kampala’s informal economy
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social and gender norms in Uganda deeply constrain domestic workers’ ability to recognize, voice, and formally report sexual harassment. Norms of female submissiveness, the privatization of sexual matters, and expectations around dress and propriety contribute to victim-blaming, shame, and normalization of harassment. These norms also shape how institutions and actors—such as […]
Social and economic marginalisation and sexual and reproductive health and rights of urban poor young women: a qualitative study from Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study illustrates how deeply embedded gender norms restrict urban poor young women’s sexual and reproductive autonomy in Gujarat, India. Respondents widely internalized dominant norms that stigmatize menstruation, silence sexual desire, and normalize male control over fertility decisions. These norms were enforced through restrictions on dress, mobility, and sexuality—especially after puberty—and […]
Peer network influence on intimate partner violence perpetration among urban Tanzanian men
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Peer networks significantly influence men’s attitudes and behaviors around intimate partner violence (IPV) in urban Tanzania. Men internalize or conform to group norms that reinforce traditional gender roles and male dominance. These norms are rarely challenged within peer groups and sometimes actively enforced. Effective IPV prevention must address peer group dynamics, […]
One Step Forwards half a Step Backwards: Changing Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence in Bangladesh.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms around male dominance, female obedience, and marital permanence remain powerful drivers of IPV. Progress in women’s rights must be matched by efforts to transform these norms—especially among men and boys—if violence is to decline sustainably. Programming should engage whole communities, address backlash, and support women as they navigate shifting […]
Navigating fertility, reproduction and modern contraception in the fragile context of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: ‘Les enfants sont une richesse’
Key Social Norms Take-aways: In South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, social norms deeply shape reproductive choices, with high fertility linked to social personhood, kinship obligations, and economic hope. Modern contraception introduces new possibilities—but also new uncertainties—as women navigate entrenched gender hierarchies, religious discourses, and fears of social or physical repercussions. Contraceptive use is often […]
Marriage and sexual and reproductive health of Rohingya adolescents and youth in Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study reveals that among the Rohingya refugee community, social norms around marriage and reproduction are deeply rooted in religious beliefs, gender roles, and protection concerns. Child marriage is widely accepted and tied to norms linking female maturity with readiness for marriage, religious duty, and family honor. Large families are socially […]
Making Sense of Marriage: Gender and the Transition to Adulthood in Nairobi, Kenya
Key Social Norms Take-aways: While the article does not explicitly address or measure social norms, it offers valuable insights into shared beliefs and expectations about marriage and adulthood among youth in Nairobi. The study highlights how marriage is broadly understood as a marker of adulthood, but with differing meanings and desirability across genders. Young men […]
Innovative methods to analyse the impact of gender norms on adolescent health using global health survey data.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study emphasizes that addressing adolescent health requires tackling not only individual attitudes but also the broader social norms reinforced by families, peers, schools, and communities. Proxy measures for gender norms—based on patterns of attitudes, behaviors, and their mismatches—offer a powerful tool to identify where social expectations create risks or opportunities […]
Impacts of Multisectoral Cash Plus Programs on Marriage and Fertility After 4 Years in Pastoralist Kenya: A Randomized Trial
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study underscores that addressing individual behaviors is not enough; shifting community norms around gender, sexuality, and the value of girls is essential. Interventions that combine community-level gender norm change with direct support for girls can reshape the social expectations that place them at risk. Successful programs must work across multiple […]
How do local gender norms interact with local conceptualisations of empowerment to shape women’s engagement in local dairy value chains in Tanzania?
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Women’s efforts to become economically empowered are heavily shaped by gender norms that prioritize domestic roles, restrict mobility, and discourage public leadership. Successful strategies depend on navigating these norms. Interventions that understand local dynamics can support incremental but meaningful shifts toward greater agency for women. Objectives: This study explored how local […]