How social norms contribute to physical violence among ever-partnered women in Uganda: A qualitative study.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study finds that deeply embedded social norms in Uganda contribute significantly to the persistence of physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Norms define IPV as a private, domestic matter, normalize its presence in women’s lives, and create informal boundaries that permit certain types of violence under specific conditions. These norms restrict […]
I am the master key that opens and locks’: Presentation and application of a conceptual framework for women’s and girls’ empowerment in reproductive health
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study illustrates how gendered social norms shape women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) empowerment by influencing both their internal motivations and external constraints. Women’s roles as primary childbearers are reinforced by community expectations, partner dynamics, and health provider interactions, while societal pressures undermine their autonomy, particularly around contraceptive […]
Gendered Experiences of Parent–Child Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues: A Qualitative Study Employing Community-Based Participatory Methods among Primary Caregivers and Community Stakeholders in Rural South-Western Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study illustrates how deeply rooted gender norms in rural south-western Uganda shape parent–child communication about sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Gendered expectations restrict mothers and fathers to only discussing topics with same-gender children and reinforce unequal socialization, where girls are expected to be submissive and boys are given more freedom. […]
Girl child marriage and the social context of displacement: a qualitative comparative exploration of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study reveals how deeply embedded gender norms—specifically those governing girl child marriage—are reinforced and sometimes intensified in contexts of displacement. Both descriptive norms (what people do) and injunctive norms (what people expect) drive early marriage practices in Syrian and Rohingya refugee communities. These norms are transmitted intergenerationally and maintained through […]
Girls need to behave like girls you know: the complexities of applying a gender justice goal within sexuality education in South African schools
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms around femininity, masculinity, and sexuality continue to shape classroom practices in ways that reproduce inequality. Teachers often reflect patriarchal and heteronormative attitudes, burdening girls and reinforcing male privilege. Transformative sexuality education must challenge these norms through inclusive messaging and critical pedagogy. Objectives: This study critically examined how South Africa’s […]
Gendered childcare norms – evidence from rural Swaziland to inform innovative structural HIV prevention approaches for young women.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Entrenched expectations that women, especially young women, will shoulder childcare responsibilities without support reinforce economic vulnerability and risky sexual dynamics. Structural interventions that challenge the gendered division of labor, reduce economic dependency, and shift norms around caregiving are crucial to preventing HIV among young women in Swaziland and similar settings. Objectives: […]
Gender norms and family planning amongst pastoralists in Kenya: a qualitative study in Wajir and Mandera
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights strong and intersecting social and gender norms that shape family planning (FP) behaviors among nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralist communities in North Eastern Kenya. Norms that encourage large families are both descriptive (what is commonly done) and injunctive (what is socially approved), deeply tied to religion, fate, and community […]
Exploring young women’s menstruation-related challenges in Uttar Pradesh, India, using the socio-ecological framework
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights how entrenched social norms — including menstrual stigma, silence, and restrictive gender expectations — profoundly shape girls’ experiences and limit their access to support and services. Effective interventions must address these social norms directly by engaging not just girls but also families, communities, schools, and boys and men, […]
Feasibility of an HIV self-testing intervention: a formative qualitative study among individuals, community leaders, and HIV testing experts in northern Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Supportive social norms—including beliefs that peers and family members would approve of HIV self-testing (HIVST)—may help drive uptake among high-risk populations in Tanzania. However, social norms were not central in participants’ discussions, suggesting that personal agency and privacy may be more decisive factors in self-testing behavior. Still, leveraging influential community leaders […]
Exploring social norms around reproductive health affecting unmarried adolescent girls and young women in Burundi
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study illustrates how deeply entrenched gender norms in Burundi shape adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Eight social norms emerged as having the greatest influence: sexuality and reproductive health are not discussed openly in households or the community, and it is not considered socially acceptable to do so; it is […]