Perceptions of intimate partner violence among men and women in southern India: a qualitative study.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Intimate partner violence in peri-urban southern India is sustained by gender norms that reinforce male authority, women’s obedience, and women’s responsibility for maintaining marriage and family privacy. Violence was sometimes considered justified when women were perceived as disobedient, failed to fulfill household duties, or were unfaithful, while stigma and expectations that […]
Help-Seeking Among Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Thailand: A Qualitative Research Study.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Cultural norms emphasizing family privacy and honor, collectivism, and traditional gender roles can discourage Thai women experiencing intimate partner violence from disclosing abuse or seeking support. Fear of stigma, blame, and damage to family reputation reinforces silence, while supportive family and friends can facilitate help-seeking. The authors emphasize addressing these social […]
Contraceptive use intention among women in Pakistan: Application of theory of planned behavior.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social expectations appear more influential than women’s personal attitudes in shaping contraceptive intentions in Pakistan. The findings suggest that even when explicit opposition to contraception is uncommon, subtle disapproval, gendered expectations, and deference to husbands and extended family can constrain women’s reproductive choices. Programs should therefore address family and community expectations […]
Factors affecting menstrual hygiene among women living in slum areas of Budanilakantha Municipality, Kathmandu.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Menstrual hygiene among women living in slum communities in Kathmandu is shaped not only by knowledge and access to resources but also by deeply entrenched cultural norms, stigma, and restrictions. Nearly all women experienced menstrual restrictions, and perceptions of menstruating women as impure remained common. The authors emphasize that menstrual health […]
Community and Health Care Provider Perspectives on Barriers to and Enablers of Family Planning Use in Rural Sindh, Pakistan: Qualitative Exploratory Study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that family planning (FP) uptake in rural Sindh is shaped by deeply rooted social and gender norms as much as by health system barriers. Norms that position men as household decision-makers, women as dependent caregivers, and large families as socially desirable limit women’s reproductive autonomy. Husbands’ and in-laws’ […]
Women’s Perceptions and Experiences of Domestic Violence: An Observational Study From Hyderabad, Pakistan
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that patriarchal social norms shape how women recognize, tolerate, and respond to domestic violence in Pakistan. Women were more likely to identify physical violence as abuse than sexual or psychological violence, and many remained silent because of expectations that women preserve family harmony, obey male authority, and avoid […]
The Dominant Role of Community Influences over Individual Contraceptive Choices in Pakistan
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Community-level normative environments appear to play a particularly important role in contraceptive use in Pakistan. The discussion suggests that supportive collective intentions can normalize family planning, reduce social costs and uncertainty, and encourage uptake even among women with limited decision-making autonomy. Conversely, community expectations favoring larger families may suppress contraceptive use. […]
Gender norms, contraceptive use, and intimate partner violence: A six-country analysis
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This cross-country study demonstrates that gender-related attitudes, used as proxies for gender norms, and couple power dynamics are important correlates of contraceptive use and intimate partner violence (IPV). Joint decision-making within couples—particularly regarding major household purchases—was consistently associated with greater modern contraceptive use and, in some settings, lower IPV, suggesting that […]
Role of husband’s attitude towards the usage of contraceptives for unmet need of family planning among married women of reproductive age in Pakistan
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights that unmet need for family planning (UMNFP) in Pakistan is shaped not only by individual or household characteristics but also by gendered social norms embedded within patriarchal decision-making. Husbands’ opposition to contraception, male control over reproductive decisions, and perceived religious prohibitions were among the strongest predictors of UMNFP. […]
Empowerment and Intimate Partner Violence in Pakistan: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Adherence to patriarchal norms—particularly the justification of wife beating—emerges as the strongest and most consistent predictor of women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Pakistan. These norms reflect deeply embedded societal expectations that legitimize male control and violence, indicating that shifts in social norms are critical for reducing IPV beyond […]