Assessing the Role of Sex and Gender Norms in Peer Violence Trends During Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study From Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Gender norms—particularly unequal expectations about sexual and romantic behavior for boys versus girls—may shape adolescents’ vulnerability to peer violence differently by sex. More unequal sexual double standard perceptions were associated with greater peer violence, particularly the overlap of victimization and perpetration among girls. The authors argue that gender-transformative approaches should address […]
Examining Trajectories of Peer Violence Experiences and Their Association with Gender Norms and Agency Among Adolescents: Evidence from China, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Unequal gender norms were associated with adolescents’ peer violence trajectories, but relationships varied substantially across settings. Sexual double standards showed the most consistent associations: more unequal perceptions predicted several higher-risk violence trajectories, suggesting that beliefs that permit different behaviors for boys and girls may contribute to violence. The discussion emphasizes that […]
Understanding How Violence Is Transmitted Across Generations: An In-Depth Multiple Case Study of Families in South Africa
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights that deeply embedded injunctive social norms—particularly those supporting authoritarian parenting, gender inequality, and the acceptability of violence as discipline—play a central role in sustaining intergenerational transmission of violence (ITV) in South Africa. Norms that justify harsh punishment, normalize aggression, and reinforce rigid expectations around obedience and gender roles […]
Engaging boys as “Structured Allies” to prevent gender-based violence against girls: Results from the CARE Tipping Point Initiative in Nepal
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study underscores that harmful gender norms—particularly those that normalize male dominance, tolerate sexual harassment, and restrict girls’ agency—are key drivers of sexual bullying and gender harassment (SBGH) in Nepal. Transforming these norms requires engaging boys not just as individuals but as “structured allies” within communities to shift both injunctive norms […]
A longitudinal study examining how self-injection social norms are associated with contraceptive self-injectable interest and use in rural Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that social norms specific to contraceptive self-injection play a measurable and influential role in shaping both women’s interest in and actual uptake of self-injectable contraception. Importantly, it shows that beyond awareness and access, supportive descriptive and injunctive norms are critical for enabling women to act on their preferences. […]
Post-intervention gendered impacts and moderating factors of a government cash plus intervention for adolescents in Tanzania.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Gender norms play a critical moderating role in shaping the effectiveness of multisectoral “cash plus” interventions for adolescents. While the intervention aimed to improve livelihoods, health, and empowerment outcomes, entrenched gender norms—particularly around contraception, relationships, and service use—limited sustained behavior change. Norms influenced both access to and uptake of services, and […]
Does going against the norm on women’s economic participation increase intimate partner violence risk? A cross-sectional, multi-national study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms—particularly those governing women’s economic participation and gendered expectations around male provision—critically shape the relationship between women’s economic empowerment (WEE) and intimate partner violence (IPV). The discussion highlights that when women’s economic behaviors deviate from what is normative in their community (“vanguard” behavior), they may face increased risk of IPV […]
Assessing the application of adapted theory of planned behaviour in predicting postpartum family planning intentions in a pragmatic randomized control trial in Western Kenya
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms—captured as perceived normative beliefs and partner/community expectations—are a central driver of postpartum family planning (PPFP) intentions. The study shows that women are more likely to intend to use PPFP when they perceive approval and support from significant others (e.g., partners, family, providers). Normative beliefs operate alongside attitudes and perceived […]
Misperception of Norms About Intimate Partner Violence as a Driver of Personal IPV Attitudes and Perpetration: A Population-Based Study of Men in Rural Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Misperceptions of social norms—specifically overestimating the extent to which other men endorse and perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV)—play a critical role in sustaining harmful attitudes and behaviors. The discussion highlights that many men believe IPV is more socially accepted and more commonly practiced than it actually is, creating a false consensus […]
HIV Testing Uptake in a Sexual and Reproductive Health Service for Youth and Impact on Population-Level Prevalence of Undiagnosed HIV in Zimbabwe.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms—particularly those related to gender, sexual behavior, and violence—operate as important community-level determinants of HIV outcomes among youth, influencing both access to testing and the likelihood of remaining undiagnosed. The discussion highlights that harmful norms, including stigma around HIV and sexual activity and norms tolerating violence against women, can discourage […]