The effectiveness of documentary films to reduce violence against women: Experimental evidence from Tanzania
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey 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 change interventions.
Objectives The study aimed to assess whether documentary films can reduce social acceptance of domestic violence and encourage reporting of violence among women in rural Tanzania.
Methods Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 480 adult men and women across six villages in Tanzania. Participants were randomly assigned to watch one of two short documentary films—one on domestic violence against women and one on violence against albinos—or were placed in a control group that watched no film. Surveys following the films measured participants’ reported experiences and attitudes toward domestic violence, using validated questions adapted from the Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey. The researchers employed both descriptive and regression analyses.
Intervention Details The intervention consisted of two short documentary excerpts (13 and 9 minutes long) from a government-produced film originally disseminated in 2009. One excerpt depicted a woman’s testimony about severe domestic abuse; the other addressed violence against albinos. Films were shown separately to men and women. Participants were then surveyed on their experiences and attitudes toward intimate partner violence.
Results Exposure to the documentary on domestic violence did not significantly change attitudes justifying violence. More notably, women who viewed the domestic violence film were less likely to report having experienced violence, with a 20-percentage point decrease in self-reported victimization. This effect was mirrored in the group that watched the albino violence film, suggesting that the emotional severity of the content—not its specific focus on gender-based violence—may have deterred disclosure. Among men, film exposure did not significantly affect reported perpetration or justification of violence, except for a minor decrease in justifying violence under specific circumstances.
Conclusions The study finds that documentary films may be ineffective, or even counterproductive, in shifting norms and encouraging disclosure about domestic violence in settings with deeply ingrained harmful gender norms. Unlike edutainment interventions that foster identification with characters and subtle value shifts, stark and emotionally intense documentaries might inadvertently suppress self-recognition and silence victims. This underscores the need for carefully designed norm-shifting strategies that consider both local context and the psychological impact of media content.
Norms Addressed
Gender-Based Violence Disclaimer: These summaries were generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and are based on the interpretation of source documents. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, there may be errors or omissions. Users are encouraged to consult the original documents for complete and authoritative information.