Young Adolescents’ Endorsement of Restrictive Gender Norms: Evidence From a Community-Based Intervention in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Leer, J

Gassman-Pines, A

Djé Blé, E

Kainessie, J

Kennedy, C

Press, S

Schubert, H

2021-09-11T14:24:18Z

2021-09-11T14:24:18Z

2021-09-11T14:24:17Z

<jats:p> This study investigated attitudes toward restrictive gender norms among adolescents in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone (pooled N = 1,793, M<jats:sub> age(baseline)</jats:sub> = 10.3, M<jats:sub> age(follow-up)</jats:sub> = 11.6, 50% boys/girls). We examined individual and contextual predictors of gender attitudes, assessed change in gender attitudes over 2 years, and estimated the effect of a community-based norms diffusion intervention. Multiple regression analyses revealed that being a boy, exposure to violence against women, and restrictive norms among same-gender peers predicted support for a patriarchal division of adult roles, lower educational status for girls, and acceptance of gender-based violence. In contrast to evidence from Western contexts, we found limited evidence of increased flexibility in gender attitudes during early adolescence. However, the intervention significantly reduced support for restrictive gender norms, especially among boys. Findings reveal novel pathways through which young adolescents acquire beliefs about gender, and provide encouraging evidence regarding community-based approaches to shifting adolescents’ gender attitudes. </jats:p>

0272-4316

1552-5449

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/23721

en

SAGE Publications

The Journal of Early Adolescence

10.1177/02724316211036742

Young Adolescents’ Endorsement of Restrictive Gender Norms: Evidence From a Community-Based Intervention in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Journal article

Leer, J|0000-0002-7594-217X

Gassman-Pines, A|0000-0003-0608-6813

027243162110367

027243162110367

Student

Duke

Published online