Social scripts of violence among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia: Exploring how gender norms and social expectations are activated in the aftermath of violence
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Social and gender norms deeply shape both the occurrence of gender-based violence (GBV) and responses to it among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia. Norms around male authority, female submissiveness, and maintaining marital harmony normalize violence, discourage reporting, and enforce silence through stigma and community sanctions. However, the study also highlights emerging spaces of resistance, where some young women question and challenge these norms, suggesting potential entry points for norm change interventions.
Objectives The study aimed to explore how social and gender norms underpin experiences of violence and shape post-violence responses among adolescent girls and young women, particularly to inform the design of the Screen & Support intervention integrating GBV screening into HIV care.
Methods The study used qualitative, participatory methods involving community conversations with 12 adolescent girls and young women (ages 15–24) in peri-urban Zambia. Participants included GBV survivors, young women living with HIV, and married young women. Data collection combined focus group discussions with arts-based participatory activities (e.g., journey mapping, persona creation). Transcripts were thematically analyzed using a coding framework to identify key themes related to norms and violence.
Intervention Details This article reports formative research for the Screen & Support intervention, which aims to integrate violence screening and response into peer-delivered HIV support services. The findings were used to inform intervention design, particularly how to address norms shaping service engagement and disclosure.
Results The study identified two overarching themes: (1) norms that contribute to and perpetuate GBV, including power differentials, social expectations, and internalized beliefs; and (2) how norms are activated after violence, including reinforcement by key reference groups (family, peers, elders, service providers), limited spaces for resistance, and widespread pressure toward silence. Gender norms justified male control, normalized violence (including within marriage), and placed responsibility on women. Social sanctions such as stigma, blame, and fear of divorce discouraged reporting. Economic dependency further constrained women’s options. While some participants expressed awareness of rights and resistance to harmful norms, these were often constrained by structural and social pressures.
Conclusions Gender and social norms are central drivers of GBV and significantly influence whether and how young women seek support after violence. Interventions must engage key reference groups, address entrenched power dynamics, and create safe spaces that counter norms of silence. Participatory approaches that center young women’s voices can help identify opportunities for shifting harmful norms and improving service uptake and wellbeing outcomes.
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