Gender norms among unmarried adolescent girls and boys (15-19 years) in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions of Bangladesh: Implications for SBCC programs

Summary:

Adolescents have the potential to accept new health behaviors or alter gender inequity perceptions in society. Existing gender equitable norms among adolescents are explored using the quantitative and qualitative data collected for the USAID funded Ujjiban Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Project in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions of Bangladesh. The aim of the paper was to identify SBCC programming opportunities for adolescents. From quantitative data, collected from 1000 randomly selected unmarried adolescents (15-19 years), gender equitable norms were measured to assess the patterns between adolescent girls and boys. A thematic analysis from qualitative data was conducted to understand the thematic areas related to gender norms. Significantly higher percentage of adolescent girls compared to the adolescent boys possessed higher gender equitable norms related to family issues (47% vs 20%), access to resources (47% vs 16%), family planning (43% vs 23%), violence (41% vs 26%) and MNCH (36% vs 25%). Qualitative findings strongly suggest that adolescent boys possess stereotypical gender perceptions about girls' roles and positions in society. Girls agreed that these were expectations of what it meant to be an ideal girl, but they also expressed their dissatisfaction on such norms. Findings suggests existence of an inequitable normative atmosphere where girls and women are undervalued. In the current complex normative environment, girls and boys do not see the gender restrictions on the girls. Thus, SBCC programs should focus on adolescent boys as a major audience and design specific programs to shift gender norms in boys.

Background/Objectives:

Almost one-fifth of Bangladeshis are adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years, who have the potential to accept new health behaviors or alter gender inequity perceptions in society. Gender equitable norms are increasingly recognized as major drivers of health and wellbeing. However, there is little evidence on patterns of gender equitable norms in adolescents (15-19 years). Existing gender equitable norms among adolescents in Bangladesh are explored in the baseline surveys of Ujjiban Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Project to identify SBCC programming opportunities for adolescents as one of the main audiences for shifting gender norms.

Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:

This paper is based on data from quantitative baseline survey and a follow up qualitative study for the USAID funded Ujjiban SBCC project in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions of Bangladesh. Quantitative data was collected from 1000 randomly selected unmarried adolescents (15-19 years) (500 girls, 500 boys) on tablets using Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) software and was analyzed using Stata. Gender equitable norms were measured using an 18-item scale, which had a total of 5 sub scales with the aim to assess the patterns between adolescent girls and boys. Supplementary qualitative data was collected through 14 semi-structured interviews and 6 focus group discussions with unmarried adolescents and a thematic analysis was conducted to understand the gendered environment in which adolescents live, how gender norms are play out in their lives and how girls differ from boys in their expectations of being a good woman and good man.

Results/Lessons Learned:

Adolescent girls (15-19 years) included in the quantitative survey have a higher level of gender equity norms as compared to the adolescent boys. A significantly higher percentage of adolescent girls compared to the adolescent boys possessed higher gender equitable norms related to family issues (47% vs 20%), access to resources (47% vs 16%), family planning (43% vs 23%), violence (41% vs 26%) and MNCH (36% vs 25%). Qualitative findings strongly suggest that adolescent boys possess stereotypical gender perceptions about girls' roles and positions in society, such as, girls should 'walk slowly with head low and eyes to the ground', they should 'stay back home and take part in household activities only', etc. Girls agreed that these were expectations of what it meant to be an ideal girl, but they also expressed their dissatisfaction on such norms.

Discussion/Implications for the Field:

The findings are consistent with other study findings, suggesting the existence of an inequitable normative atmosphere where the girls and women are undervalued. Data also indicates that low gender equitable norms are formed in adolescence, thus boys are expected to be socialized into accepting male superiority and echo the same normative expectations of adult men. In the current complex normative environment, girls and boys do not see the gender restrictions on the girls. Thus, SBCC programs should focus on adolescent boys as a major audience and design specific programs to shift gender norms in boys.

Abstract submitted by:

Yasmin Siddiqua - JHU CCP Bangladesh
Syed Jafar Raza  Rizvi - JHU CCP Bangladesh
Nandita Kapadia Kundu - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Zoe Hendrickson - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Sabina Shahnaz - JHU CCP Bangladesh
Patrick Coleman - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health