Sophia Chae1, Nicole Haberland2, Katharine J McCarthy3, Ann M Weber4, Gary L Darmstadt4, Thoai D Ngo5. 1. Girl, Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center, Population Council, New York, New York. 2. Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program, Population Council, New York, New York. Electronic address: nhaberland@popcouncil.org. 3. City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York, New York. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California. 5. Girl, Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center, Population Council, New York, New York; Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program, Population Council, New York, New York.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Inequitable gender norms are thought to harm lifelong health and well-being. We explore the process of gender attitude change and the role of schooling in shifting or reinforcing gender norms among adolescent girls in Zambia. METHODS: We used longitudinal data collected from unmarried, vulnerable girls (aged 10-19 years) as part of the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program. We conducted random effects multinomial logistic regression to determine whether schooling-related factors were associated with shifts in adolescent girls' gender attitudes across three survey rounds and explored whether these relationships varied by age. RESULTS: Mean gender attitude scores at the aggregate level remained stable over time among rural girls and improved slightly for urban girls. At the individual level, about half the girls had relatively unchanged scores, whereas the other half shifted to higher or lower scores between rounds. Rural and urban girls currently attending school were more likely to have relatively stable equitable attitudes than stable, inequitable attitudes, or attitudes that shifted to inequitable. Educational attainment was not associated with shifts in gender attitudes among rural girls. Urban girls with higher educational attainment were more likely to have relatively stable equitable attitudes than stable, inequitable attitudes, or attitudes that shifted to inequitable or more equitable. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of gender attitude stability and change differed more for urban girls than rural girls and varied by age and schooling-related factors. In general, schooling appears to be an institutional lever that holds promise for shifting gender attitudes toward greater equality. Our study highlights the importance of looking longitudinally at the effects of social context and reinforces calls for targeted, context-specific interventions for this age group.
PURPOSE: Inequitable gender norms are thought to harm lifelong health and well-being. We explore the process of gender attitude change and the role of schooling in shifting or reinforcing gender norms among adolescent girls in Zambia. METHODS: We used longitudinal data collected from unmarried, vulnerable girls (aged 10-19 years) as part of the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program. We conducted random effects multinomial logistic regression to determine whether schooling-related factors were associated with shifts in adolescent girls' gender attitudes across three survey rounds and explored whether these relationships varied by age. RESULTS: Mean gender attitude scores at the aggregate level remained stable over time among rural girls and improved slightly for urban girls. At the individual level, about half the girls had relatively unchanged scores, whereas the other half shifted to higher or lower scores between rounds. Rural and urban girls currently attending school were more likely to have relatively stable equitable attitudes than stable, inequitable attitudes, or attitudes that shifted to inequitable. Educational attainment was not associated with shifts in gender attitudes among rural girls. Urban girls with higher educational attainment were more likely to have relatively stable equitable attitudes than stable, inequitable attitudes, or attitudes that shifted to inequitable or more equitable. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of gender attitude stability and change differed more for urban girls than rural girls and varied by age and schooling-related factors. In general, schooling appears to be an institutional lever that holds promise for shifting gender attitudes toward greater equality. Our study highlights the importance of looking longitudinally at the effects of social context and reinforces calls for targeted, context-specific interventions for this age group.
Authors: Beniamino Cislaghi; Ann M Weber; Holly B Shakya; Safa Abdalla; Amiya Bhatia; Benjamin W Domingue; Iván Mejía-Guevara; Lindsay Stark; Ilana Seff; Linda M Richter; Ana Maria Baptista Menezes; Cesar G Victora; Gary L Darmstadt Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2021-12-10 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Helen Elizabeth Denise Burchett; Dylan Kneale; Sally Griffin; Málica de Melo; Joelma Joaquim Picardo; Rebecca S French Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-16 Impact factor: 4.614