TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the Spectrum of Gender Norms Perceptions in Early Adolescence
T2 - A Cross-Cultural Analysis of the Global Early Adolescent Study
AU - Moreau, Caroline
AU - Li, Mengmeng
AU - Ahmed, Saifuddin
AU - Zuo, Xiayun
AU - Cislaghi, Beniamino
N1 - Funding Information:
Disclaimer: Publication of this supplement was supported by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Funding Information:
This study was conducted with support from the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), a co-sponsored programme executed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Support was also provided by the Oak Foundation [OCAY-17-649], Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [OPP1125119, OPP1197258], the Packard Foundation [2017-66517], and the United States Agency for International Development [AID-OAA-A-15-00042].? Disclaimer: Publication of this supplement was supported by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Funding Information:
This study was conducted with support from the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), a co-sponsored programme executed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Support was also provided by the Oak Foundation [ OCAY-17-649 ], Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [ OPP1125119 , OPP1197258 ], the Packard Foundation [ 2017-66517 ], and the United States Agency for International Development [ AID-OAA-A-15-00042 ].”
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Purpose: There is increasing recognition that gender norms affect adolescent health and well-being. This study explores the consistency of adolescents' gender norm perceptions across different dimensions (roles, traits, relations) and describes how the patterns of these perceptions vary across four culturally different settings. Methods: The study includes 8,977 adolescents aged 10–14 years from Kinshasa, Shanghai, Cuenca, and Indonesia. Three gender norm scales were examined: sexual double standard, gender stereotypical traits, and stereotypical roles. We investigated patterns of gender norms across dimensions (roles, traits, and relations) and compared results between sites. We also examined how adolescents' individual responses across the scales compared with average responses in their site, to assess the consistency of their gender views. Results: Patterns of gender norms varied across sites, reflected in different levels of endorsement of each gender norms scale, from least equal in Kinshasa to most equal in Shanghai, while greater variation of perspectives across gender dimensions was noted in Cuenca and Indonesia. Moving from a societal to an individual perspective, most adolescents in each site (62%–67%) held both more progressive and less progressive views compared with their average peer depending on the gender dimension. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the coexistence of multiple gender worldviews that are assessed and enacted as per adolescents' experiences and social context. Accounting for such complexities is essential for gender-transformative programs, as shifting gender attitudes in one area does not necessarily translate in more gender equitable views across other spheres of life.
AB - Purpose: There is increasing recognition that gender norms affect adolescent health and well-being. This study explores the consistency of adolescents' gender norm perceptions across different dimensions (roles, traits, relations) and describes how the patterns of these perceptions vary across four culturally different settings. Methods: The study includes 8,977 adolescents aged 10–14 years from Kinshasa, Shanghai, Cuenca, and Indonesia. Three gender norm scales were examined: sexual double standard, gender stereotypical traits, and stereotypical roles. We investigated patterns of gender norms across dimensions (roles, traits, and relations) and compared results between sites. We also examined how adolescents' individual responses across the scales compared with average responses in their site, to assess the consistency of their gender views. Results: Patterns of gender norms varied across sites, reflected in different levels of endorsement of each gender norms scale, from least equal in Kinshasa to most equal in Shanghai, while greater variation of perspectives across gender dimensions was noted in Cuenca and Indonesia. Moving from a societal to an individual perspective, most adolescents in each site (62%–67%) held both more progressive and less progressive views compared with their average peer depending on the gender dimension. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the coexistence of multiple gender worldviews that are assessed and enacted as per adolescents' experiences and social context. Accounting for such complexities is essential for gender-transformative programs, as shifting gender attitudes in one area does not necessarily translate in more gender equitable views across other spheres of life.
KW - Early adolescence
KW - Gender norms
KW - Gender system
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108780706&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.03.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.03.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 34217454
AN - SCOPUS:85108780706
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 69
SP - S16-S22
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 1
ER -