Key Social Norms Take-aways Social norms in this context position women as primary caregivers and homemakers, while framing male dominance, aggression, and decision-making as natural. These norms were widely accepted and normalized among women prior to the intervention. However, by linking gender norms to family health and well-being, and facilitating peer-led questioning of traditional roles, the intervention empowered women to challenge and renegotiate these norms. Importantly, even without directly addressing power relations, the program enabled women to engage families in dialogue, reduce stigma, and model norm change in daily life.
Objectives The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a community-based health promotion intervention in changing women’s acceptance of gender norms that contribute to GBV in a rural Sri Lankan setting. It sought to build mechanisms for women to question and transform harmful norms and document behavioral and attitudinal shifts.
Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two demographically similar rural communities in the Anuradhapura District. The intervention group (n=42) participated in a six-month community-led health promotion program; the control group (n=30) did not. The intervention used structured group activities, facilitated discussions, and tools like “relationship bridges” and determinant models to link gender norms to GBV and family health. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention using interviewer-administered questionnaires assessing six selected gender norms and focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore behavioral changes.
Results At baseline, women in both groups showed high acceptance of traditional gender norms. Post-intervention, five of six norms showed statistically significant reductions in acceptance in the intervention group (e.g., fewer women agreed that women should be more responsible for childcare or household tasks). In contrast, no significant changes occurred in the control group. FGDs revealed increased spousal support in domestic work, willingness to challenge intergenerational role expectations, and actions to model norm change with children. However, norms around male violence as a masculine trait were more resistant to change.
Conclusions The intervention successfully empowered women to question and shift acceptance of harmful gender norms through a locally adapted, health-focused, community-led model. While some deeply held norms proved harder to change, the overall results affirm that behavior change is possible when interventions leverage peer networks, prioritize family health, and build capacity for community dialogue. The findings offer a scalable model for addressing gender norms as a root cause of GBV, particularly in rural and low-resource settings.