The effectiveness of documentary films to reduce violence against women: Experimental evidence from Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that documentary films portraying severe violence may unintentionally suppress reporting of domestic violence and fail to shift harmful social norms. In deeply entrenched normative contexts, such media may reinforce feelings of isolation or irrelevance among viewers, highlighting the importance of both content and delivery format in social norm […]
Lessons learned from implementing Indashyikirwa in Rwanda- an adaptation of the SASA! approach to prevent and respond to intimate partner violence
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that harmful social norms in Rwanda—particularly those upholding male authority and the acceptability of violence to discipline women—are central to sustaining IPV. A key takeaway is that social norm change is achievable when interventions like Indashyikirwa create space for couples to redefine respect, power, and gender roles in […]
Effective prevention of intimate partner violence through couples training: a randomised controlled trial of Indashyikirwa in Rwanda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Indashyikirwa’s couples’ training effectively challenged and shifted harmful gender norms by reducing the acceptability of IPV, transforming beliefs around male dominance, and strengthening norms around mutual respect and communication. The programme demonstrated that directly engaging couples can alter relationship dynamics and foster broader social norm change, including promoting community action against […]
Community activism as a strategy to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural Rwanda: Results of a community randomized trial
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The evaluation of Indashyikirwa reveals that efforts to shift social norms around intimate partner violence (IPV) must be deeply grounded in the local context and allowed adequate time to take root. While the intervention was built on a norms-change framework, community-level change did not occur within the study’s timeframe. This highlights […]
Unlocking the potential for engaging men to improve reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health in Karnali Province, Nepal
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The Healthy Transitions project demonstrates the potential of community-based, gender-transformative interventions to shift social norms around male roles in reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health in Nepal. By engaging men through relatable media, dialogue, and reflection, the intervention addressed traditional gender norms—such as male detachment from maternal health and harmful menstrual practices—while […]
Findings from a mixed-methods evaluation of a multi-level adolescent and youth reproductive and maternal health intervention in Karnali Province, Nepal
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The Healthy Transitions intervention demonstrated that gender-transformative programming at multiple socio-ecological levels can shift deeply rooted norms around early marriage, fertility, and gender roles. While notable progress was made in improving AGYW’s gender-equitable attitudes and family support for delaying marriage and childbearing, persistent social norms—such as son preference and stigma around […]
Growing Up GREAT! End of Project Report
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The Growing Up Great! program highlights the importance of targeting deeply rooted social norms that restrict adolescent girls’ bodily autonomy and decision-making power. The evaluation found that while individual knowledge and attitudes improved, sustained gender and power hierarchies in families and communities limited girls’ ability to act on this information. The […]
Community Dialogue to Shift Social Norms and Enable Family Planning: An Evaluation of the Family Planning Results Initiative in Kenya
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The intervention successfully challenged norms that limited women’s reproductive autonomy and discouraged FP use. Dialogues helped normalize FP discussions, reduced stigma, and encouraged joint decision-making. Involving respected local figures and modeling positive behaviors created social permission for men to engage more equitably in reproductive health. The findings show how social norms […]
Two Sides of Gender: Sex, Power, and Adolescence
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study illustrates the importance of targeting male gender norms and attitudes about intimate partner violence and sexual relationships to improve outcomes for adolescent girls. The soccer-based intervention with boys focused on shifting norms around respect for females, age-appropriate relationships, and consent, aiming to indirectly influence girls’ sexual health by intervening […]
The effects of the integration of an economic strengthening and HIV prevention education programme on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and savings behaviours among adolescents: a full-factorial randomised controlled trial in South Africa
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study underscores that social norms, particularly those related to gender dynamics, communication about sex, and financial decision-making, play an important but complex role in shaping adolescent sexual health outcomes. While the integrated intervention aimed to shift norms around gender and economic autonomy, the study found limited evidence of behavioral change. […]