Women's Health

Interventions for changing gendered norms about women and girls at the level of household and community: a review of the evidence

Chief Investigator: Professor Helen Keleher

This review was carried out to support the development of the Women and Gender Equity Knowledge Network’s report to the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. (http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/). The review sought to identify the best available research evidence about strategies or interventions at the level of household and community that have been effective for changing gendered norms to increase the status of women, with a focus on developing countries. It analyses existing intervention research around five key themes:

Gendered norms in relation to education of women and girls

Gendered norms in relation to violence against women and girls

Female genital cutting

Gendered norms in relation to economic empowerment of women

Men and boys

In the final report, each theme is addressed with highlighting of best practices and a summary of major outcomes, lessons learned and key messages.

Research Staff

Lucinda Franklin

Publications from this research

Keleher, H. (2009). Gender norms and empowerment: ‘what works’ to increase equity for women and girls. Chapter 4 in Sen,
G. & Ostlin, P. (eds) Gender Inequity in Health. New York, Routledge

Keleher, H. and Franklin, L. (2008). Changing gendered norms about women and girls at the level of household and community: a review of the evidence. Global Public Health, Vol 3, Supplement 1: 42-57.

Interventions to address healthy eating and physical activity among disadvantaged groups of women

Obesity is a high prevalence cause of morbidity and mortality among low income women. Low income is frequently associated with communities that are less likely to support healthy nutrition or protective levels of physical activity. In turn, obesity is linked to poor mental health, diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). To inform more evidence-based and effective interventions, this project is a systematic review of the literature relating to the effectiveness of intervention strategies in physical activity and healthy eating designed to improve health outcomes for disadvantaged women.

A/Professor Rhian Parker

Research staff