Applying a gender lens to social norms, couple communication and decision making to increase modern contraceptive use in Ethiopia, a mixed methods study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that community-based interventions targeting young men can shift harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV). At baseline, participants across all three study arms expressed substantial support for inequitable norms. For example, 58% agreed that a woman should tolerate violence to keep her family together, and half […]
An Exploration of Social Norms That Restrict Girls’ Sexuality and Facilitate Child Marriage in Bangladesh to Inform Policies and Programs
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study underscores that persistent social norms designed to control adolescent girls’ sexuality are central to the continuation of child marriage in rural Bangladesh. Norms that restrict girls’ mobility, prohibit interaction with male peers, and exclude girls from decision-making around their own marriage are driven by concerns about family honor and […]
Adolescents’ capabilities and aspirations across gender and generations in Amhara, Ethiopia
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that despite progressive policy reforms across three Ethiopian political regimes, persistent gender norms—particularly those around early marriage, ideal femininity, and sexual purity—continued to shape and constrain adolescent girls’ capabilities and aspirations. Social norms rooted in cultural and religious beliefs often superseded formal protections and legal frameworks. Notably, the […]
Adolescent girls trapped in early marriage social norm in rural Ethiopia: A vignette-based qualitative exploration
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Early marriage in rural Ethiopia is upheld by strong social norms enforced by peers, parents, marriage brokers, and community members. Girls are expected to accept early marriage proposals—often seen as rare opportunities—and refusal can result in stigma, isolation, or even coercion. These norms persist due to conditional preferences: individuals conform because […]
‘A cut woman is the pride of all her relatives’: a situation analysis of female genital mutilation in Mali
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Female genital mutilation in Mali is upheld by strong social norms tied to identity, tradition, and group belonging. The practice is often seen as a rite of passage and a requirement for girls to be recognized as full members of their community. Being cut is associated with honor, pride, and social […]