Uneven progress: trends and social inequalities in women’s empowerment domains in Ghana from 2003-2022
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Ghana has made substantial progress in women’s rejection of norms that justify intimate partner violence, suggesting meaningful normative change, but this progress has not translated evenly into other dimensions of women’s empowerment. The discussion emphasizes that restrictive gender norms and household power relations continue to constrain decision-making, particularly among disadvantaged groups. […]
Menarche as a silent transition: Islamic modesty norms, mother-daughter communication, and menstrual readiness among rural Indonesian adolescents.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Islamic modesty norms shape menstrual readiness by influencing whether, how, and how openly menstruation is discussed. Silence around menstruation was not simply an information gap but a socially meaningful practice associated with religious identity, femininity, modesty, and moral conduct. Importantly, adolescents did not reject Islamic values; rather, they wanted emotionally supportive […]
Condom literacy, self-efficacy, and HIV-risk behaviors: a cross-sectional analysis of adolescent girls in northwestern Botswana
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Although gender and relationship norms were not independently associated with girls’ perceived ability to insist on condom use after adjustment, the discussion emphasizes that patriarchal beliefs about male power in sexual relationships may still impede girls’ ability to translate condom-use intentions into behavior. A notable minority of girls endorsed beliefs that […]
Parental and Adolescent Factors predicting Protective Sexual Behaviors among In-School Adolescents: A Positive Deviance Explanation
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Peer sexual norms are an important influence on adolescents’ protective sexual behaviors. Adolescents who perceived their peers as more accepting of sexual activity were less likely to abstain or practice safer sex. The discussion further emphasizes that these peer influences operate within broader gendered norms: girls may face unequal sanctions for […]
Explaining the attitude-behavior gap in adolescent sexual and reproductive health service utilization: A cognitive dissonance perspective from rural Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Adolescents’ favorable attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health services do not necessarily translate into use when stigma, anticipated judgment, misinformation, and peer influence reinforce non-use. The discussion emphasizes that social norms interact with psychological and structural barriers: fear of being labeled promiscuous or irresponsible can justify avoiding services, while reliance on […]
Attitude and Involvement Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social and cultural expectations appear to shape university students’ attitudes toward and engagement with sexual and reproductive health. The discussion suggests that male students may face stigma and gendered expectations that discourage seeking information or showing interest in reproductive health, while broader gendered socialization and unequal access to resources may reinforce […]
The interplay of economic shocks and cultural practices in child marriage: Comparative evidence from India and Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Child marriage is shaped by the interaction of restrictive gender norms, cultural marriage practices, and economic conditions rather than economic hardship alone. The discussion emphasizes that inequitable norms prioritizing girls’ roles as wives and household caretakers can limit investment in girls’ education and future opportunities, increasing vulnerability to marriage when crises […]
Teenage Pregnancy and Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Marriage and Pregnancy: Primary Data Analysis in Akatsi North, Ghana.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Peer influence and gender norms are important social drivers of adolescents’ attitudes toward marriage and pregnancy. Peer pressure emerged as the strongest influence on preferences for earlier marriage and childbearing, while more gender-equitable attitudes—particularly valuing university education equally for girls and boys—were associated with delaying marriage. The discussion emphasizes that social […]
Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Women: A Multilevel Analysis Across 20 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Acceptance of intimate partner violence reflects patriarchal gender norms that can normalize violence against women. Women surveyed between 2019 and 2022 were substantially less likely to justify intimate partner violence than those in earlier surveys, which the authors suggest may reflect shifting social norms and greater awareness. Education and women’s decision-making […]
Psychosocial Determinants of Intention to Use Dual Contraception Among Thai Female Students: Integrating the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behavior.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social influences are relevant to female adolescents’ intentions to use dual contraception. Subjective norms—perceived social expectations around contraceptive use—were positively associated with intention, although they did not remain an independent predictor in the multivariable model. The discussion emphasizes that contraceptive decision-making can vary with social and cultural context and recommends communication […]