What is a social norm?
A social norm is a shared belief on what others in a group actually do (i.e. what is typical behaviour); what others in a group think they ought to do (i.e. what is appropriate behaviour). These social norms, often unspoken, shape the expectations within a group of people, which act as a reference for all. An example of a social norm that is widely prevalent, yet never openly discussed, is the fact that a good woman should respect her husband’s authority. This norm is what both men and women base themselves on and when this expectation is not met, there is high acceptance of violence from both men and women.
Can you explain how these norms came into being?
We live in a patriarchal world, where most decisions are made by the men in the family. If you step outside the family and look at communities or for that matter the polity, the decision-making power mostly lies with men. This automatically leads to the assumption that women and girls have lesser value in society, communities and families. This de-valuing of women and girls has an impact on the actual practices that exist in society, be it in posh parts of Delhi or rural Tamil Nadu.For example, the preference for a son results in sex-selective abortion and a skewed sex ratio; demand for dowry; limited access of girls to education and sometimes even poor nutrition for girls.
Why is it important to address social norms as a problem?
Gender inequality which often leads to violence against women and girls is a complex phenomenon. It is difficult to hold one single factor responsible for it. Our textbooks show images of women in the kitchen and men as farmers, but in reality women constitute over 40% of the agricultural labour in India. Our advertisements have shown that women need to be fair skinned to attain success in life. Our films send signals to impressionable young boys that by stalking a girl, they can get a girl to fall in love with them. So all these factors are linked in perpetuating gender inequality and violence against women and girls. Without changing these unwritten rules and expectation, we will not be able to make much progress. If we want to achieve gender equality, women need to be valued as much as men.
How can we change social norms?
The first step towards this change is to be aware of the existing social norms. Second would be to acknowledge them as a problem. Third and final step is to address them in a constructive manner. All of this is possible if we- on an everyday basis- question existing attitudes, norms and behaviours. The end result to changing social norms is really a behavioural change of individuals and groups. We, at Oxfam India, are trying through grassroots programmes and campaigns to not only challenge these norms but at the same time, enable an environment to form new positive norms.
How soon can we hope to achieve this change?
A change in social norm is a long term process, as it is a change in behaviours of individuals and collectives. This involves a great deal of self-reflection and honesty, something that is not easy to do in a short span of time. When a critical mass of individuals displays changed behaviour that is when social norms will change. That’s our goal.
By Julie Thekkuden, who is leading the Gender Justice programme at Oxfam India, explains gender-based social norms in India.
We campaign to change patriarchal mindsets that influence violence against women
Read MoreOct 14, 2019 | radhika
Oct 9, 2019 | radhika
Oct 9, 2019 | radhika
Sep 27, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 19, 2019 | radhika
Sep 19, 2019 | radhika
Sep 6, 2019 | radhika
Sep 5, 2019 | radhika
Sep 5, 2019 | radhika
Sep 20, 2019 | Anisha
Aug 19, 2019 | radhika
Aug 19, 2019 | radhika
Aug 6, 2019 | radhika
Aug 16, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Sep 17, 2019 | Anisha
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Aug 1, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Sep 17, 2019 | Anisha
Jul 17, 2019 | radhika
Jul 10, 2019 | radhika
Jun 27, 2019 | radhika
Jun 27, 2019 | radhika
Jun 19, 2019 | radhika
Jun 6, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Jun 19, 2019 | Anisha
May 27, 2019 | Anisha
May 27, 2019 | sanya
May 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
May 13, 2019 | ursila
Sep 30, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 23, 2019 | ursila
Sep 20, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Aug 26, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
May 13, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 23, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Sep 27, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | Karan
Oct 1, 2019 | Karan
Sep 27, 2019 | Karan
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Karan
Sep 27, 2019 | Karan
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Aug 26, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 10, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 9, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 9, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 10, 2019 | Avantika
May 13, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Karan
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
May 13, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 |
Apr 5, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 |
Apr 5, 2019 |
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
24 May, 2013
NA
If you walked into a small auditorium at a New Delhi university recently, here’s what you would have seen — several young people sat quietly in a circle. They were listening to anot...
07 Nov, 2013
NA
Posted November 7, 2013 by Julie Thekkudan India is a land of many contrasts where goddesses are revered for their strength and invincibility yet violence against women in all form...
12 May, 2014
Delhi
Oxfam India pledges its support to #BringBackOurGirls and highly condemns the actions of militant group Boko Haram. We commend the activism of Nigerian citizens, particularly women ...
03 Jun, 2014
NA
Posted June 3, 2014 by Julie Thekkudan Yet another gruesome rape and murder which has caught the attention of the world! The foremost reaction that comes to my mind is that it took...
Become an Oxfam Supporter, Sign Up Today
One of the most trusted non-profit organisations in India
