Vector halftone smoke effect. ©Kundra/ Shutterstock ID: 749707636
Welcome to the ALIGN platform

Advancing Learning & Innovation on Gender Norms (ALIGN)

ALIGN leads research and knowledge sharing on gender and social norms. We explore key drivers of transformative change, building insight from our own research and our ever-expanding community of practice.

About ALIGN

Toolkit

22 September 2025

7 ways gender norms shape LGBTQI+ lives
Authors: Evie Browne, Emilie Tant

Published by: ALIGN

Banner with illustrations by Design by Maia

Report

5 March 2025

Action through art: how arts-based initiatives promote gender equality
Author: Diana Jiménez Thomas Rodriguez

Published by: ALIGN

Illustration from cover of report

Blog

14 April 2025

Using art to reshape masculinities: a perspective from Mexico
Author: Guillermo Jiménez

Published by: ALIGN

Colourful abstract art watercolor painting of a man sitting on the ground looking out at the horizon. © Benjavisa Ruangvaree Art | Shutterstock ID: 1416917957

16 April 2025

Research series: Resisting gender-restrictive actors in education in Pakistan and Sierra Leone
Schoolgirls at an Aahung partner school reading in the shade of a tree. © Aahung

Report

12 February 2025

How women's movements lead demands for democracy in the face of backlash and politicised religion
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Sam Sharp

Published by: ODI Global

Women from diverse backgrounds and grassroots communities protest at an event organised by SIHA calling for democracy and women’s human rights, Khartoum, Sudan, 2019 Credit: Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)/Ula Osman.

Blog

10 February 2025

Why online safety policies and digital advocacy are essential for women’s political participation
Author: Annelies Coessens

Published by: ALIGN

Composite photo collage of woman facing online abuse © Roman Samborskyi | Shutterstock ID: 2451261615
View all latest resources

Spotlight: Backlash

Briefing paper

10 July 2023

Facing the backlash: what is fuelling anti-feminist and anti-democratic forces?
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Emilie Tant, Caroline Harper

Published by: ALIGN

Facing the backlash image
Report
How women's movements lead demands for democracy in the face of backlash and politicised religion
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Sam Sharp
Report
Whose hands on our education? Identifying and countering gender-restrictive backlash
Authors: Sophia M. D’Angelo, Rachel Marcus, Ayesha Khan, Olha Homonchuk
Briefing paper
Feminist responses to ‘norm-spoiling’ at the United Nations
Author: Rebecca Holmes
View all backlash resources
collaborate image

Join the ALIGN community

ALIGN thrives on collaborating with other specialists in the field of gender norms and we invite you to be a part of that. There are many ways you can collaborate and join our community of practice, click to find out more.

Collaborate with ALIGN

Themes

Aurat march at Frere Hall Karachi, Pakistan, on International women's Day 2021. © Aqib Yasin | Shutterstock ID: 1931666027
Backlash
A young women's hand with henna tattoos and a diamond ring. ©infinity21/shutterstock
Child marriage
A young woman engineer checking solar panel at solar power plant © Monthira | Shutterstock ID: 786784237
Economic empowerment
At student writing on a board. © Sarah Farhat / World Bank ID: 20170317-Tanzania-Farhat-8282
Education
#NiUnaMenos Placard with eye and tear drop painting
Gender-based violence
Women in Indonesia leading the COVID-19 Prevention Response. © UN Women/Putra Djohan and Ali Lutfi
Health
Gay Pride celebration and parade in Durban City, South Africa © Timothy Hodgkinson | Shutterstock ID: 665899426
LGBTQI+
A close-up of a phone screen with the Twitter logo on it ©i_am_zews | Shutterstock ID:2071249703
Media: social and broadcast
Two men sitting on the grass with backs to camera
Men, boys and masculinities
Discussing local governance at a Rwanda community village meeting. © Subhrajit123/ Stock Photo ID: 2011588205
Political norms
A feminist march in Mexico city. ©clicksdemexico | Shutterstock ID: 1933279691
Social movements

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