A man reading a paper. Copyright: Roman Kraft/Unsplash

Norms in the news

Welcome to ALIGN’s norms in the news page where we profile media stories related to gender and social norms. Here we provide links to a range of news stories which illuminate the impact of harmful norms, newfound data and information on measuring and understanding norms. Many of these articles explore how norms are changing in different societies, and discuss policies and approaches that affect norms. Not all stories use the terminology ‘gender norms’, but they all help highlight topics where gender and social norms have a clear influence.

Please do share any relevant articles you see by submitting the title and link in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Please note, views in these articles are the publication's own and do not necessarily reflect those of ALiGN or the Overseas Development Institute. 

Burkina Faso

A class for auto mechanic at the CFIAM all-female school in Ouagadougou. ©Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni/The Guardian
Changing roles in Burkina Faso - a photo essay

Theme: Economic empowerment, Masculinities
Source: The Guardian - UK

Japan

Shinjiro Koizumi with his wife, Christel Takigawa. Japan’s leave provision is among the most generous in the world. Photograph: Yoshitaka Sugawara/AP
Culture shock: can trailblazing Japanese minister change minds on paternity leave?

Theme: Men, boys and masculinities, politics, unpaid care work
Source: The Guardian - United Kingdom

UK

Photo of the advert for People Per Hour was banned for "reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes" ©BBC
'Girl boss' advert banned for gender stereotyping

Theme: Advertising, WEE
Source: BBC - UK

United Kingdom

‘Many survivors feel guilt or shame, torturing themselves with questions like why they didn’t somehow fight off their attackers.’ Photograph: Cebas/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Male rape survivors suffer in silence. We need to help them talk

Theme: Toxic masculinity
Source: The Guardian - UK

The article highlights the lack of support for male survivors of sexual violence, and the ways that toxic gender norms often leave them traumatised and struggling.

Japan

Illustration from the article. Credit: Jing Wei/NYT
The Japanese rebel who’s fighting the tyranny of high heels

Theme: Social movements
Source: New York Times - USA

This article discusses how a young activist in Japan used online social movements through hashtags to tackle gender norms about women wearing high heels in Japan.

UK

Children from Torriano primary in north London changed their views during the pilot about which jobs were ‘for boys’. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian
A year to clean five schools of sexism – shouldn’t others do the same?

Theme: Education
Source: The Guardian - UK

There is a renewed focus on challenging gender stereotypes and inequitable norms in childhood. This article highlights some inspiring experiences in UK primary schools.

Lebanon

Female protesters stand in a line before Lebanese army soldiers during a demonstration on the seventh day of unrest against tax increases and official corruption, in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Beirut. © AFP
Lebanese women are breaking taboos to be face of protests

Theme: Politics, Civil Society
Source: The National - UAE

Jordan

A women in silhouette walks through a square in Jordan. © Annie Sakkab/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Jordan urged to stop imprisoning women for defying the wishes of men

Theme: Gender-based violence, Law, Rights, Sexual and Reproductive Health
Source: The Guardian - UK

Uganda

Maria Nantale, centre, at an outreach event hosted by the Aids Support Organisation, a health services group, and Uganda’s Eastern Region Women’s Empowerment Organisation. © Jake Naughton/the Guardian
'They paid a guy to kill me': health workers fight homophobia in Uganda

Theme: LGBTQI+
Source: The Guardian - UK

Lebanon

Sarah El Jizi, head coach in the Beirut area for Right To Play, hands out football medals at Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon. Photograph: Maher Hasbany/Courtesy of Right To Play
'Football is forbidden': how girls in a Lebanon refugee camp kicked back

Theme: Sport for development, refugees
Source: The Guardian - UK

Global

Still from video in Time article showing the slogan "fear less, build more"
Melinda Gates: Here's Why I'm Committing $1 Billion to Promote Gender Equality

Theme: Education, economic empowerment
Source: Time - USA

UK

A graphic of a human heart. Copyright: Getty Images/BBC
Inequalities in heart attack care 'costing women's lives'

Theme: Health
Source: BBC News - UK

Iran

Fans hold up a sign supporting women at stadiums. © Getty Images/BBC
Iran's 'blue girl' dies after setting herself on fire

Theme: Patriachy, Sport, Human Rights
Source: BBC - UK

Japan

Opposition candidate Sakura Uchikoshi attends a campaign rally in July 2019. © Linda Sieg / Reuters
Japan’s Upper House is no place for a woman: How the ruling party impedes gender parity in politics

Theme: Politics
Source: Foreign Affairs - USA

United Kingdom

Photo: MONDELEZUK/BBC
Philadelphia and VW ads banned for gender stereotyping

Theme: Media
Source: BBC - United Kingdom

Middle East & N.Africa

Two Arab women working in a laboratory. Credit: Shutterstock
Empowering Arab women scientists for leadership roles

Theme: Economic empowerment, Technology
Source: Arab News - Dubai

DR Congo

Two Congolese women with a village on a hill in the background. © Stephen Morrision/EPA
Gender norms built into sexual violence programmes in the DRC need a rethink

Theme: Gender-based violence
Source: The Conversation - Australia

South Africa, Global

Female engineers in South Africa. Credit: Sunshine Seeds/Shutterstock
The fourth industrial revolution risks leaving women behind

Theme: Economic empowerment, technology
Source: The Africa Report - France

India

Many Internet articles extol Kashmiri women, and men, emphasising the fair colour of their skin. Credit: AFP
Indian men who see new policy as chance to marry Kashmiri women accused of chauvinism

Theme: Politics, Technology
Source: The Straits Times - Singapore

Australia

Men on their way to work. Credit: AFP
Gender equality? Sorry men, but we are still the slackers

Theme: Economic empowerment, Unpaid care work
Source: The Straits Times - Singapore

Canada

Evidence has shows that having children no longer correlates with happiness. Photograph: GraphicaArtis/Getty Images
Far-right trolls still believe the antiquated notion that motherhood equals happiness

Theme: Sexual and reproductive health, patriarchy
Source: The Guardian - United Kingdom

Zimbabwe

A female scientist analyses samples in a lab in Johannesburg, South Africa. Credit: United Nations
Challenges African Women in Science Face

Theme: Technology, Economic empowerment
Source: All Africa - South Africa

United Kingdom

Copyright: BBC
How can universities get men to talk about mental health?

Theme: Health, Men, boys and masculinities
Source: The BBC - United Kingdom

Malawi

A graphic of a stereotypical family. Credit Mana online
Myths lowering family planning uptake in Mchinji - DHO

Theme: Sexual and reproductive health
Source: Mana online - Malawi

Taiwan

Students at Banqiao Senior High School near Taipei will be allowed to wear skirts or trousers. Credit: PCSH.BQSA/FACEBOOK
Taiwan school adopts gender-neutral uniform policy

Theme: Education
Source: The Straits Times - Singapore

India

A venn diagram showing content, visuals and exercises. Copyright: The Times of India
Gender Sensitisation programmes in syllabus for schools

Theme: Education
Source: The Times of India - India

United Kingdom

A woman vacuums whilst a man reads his been. Copyright Getty images
UK advertising watchdog to crack down on sexist stereotypes

Theme: Media
Source: The Guardian - United Kingdom

Iran

Iran's law requires women to cover their hair and wear loose garment to hide their body and skin [Majid Saeedi/Getty Images]
Iranians boycott ride-hailing app after hijab controversy

Theme: Law
Source: Aljazeera - Qatar

USA

“The Smiths share the drudgery of housework, for they both have important war jobs,” the Office of War Information wrote about this photo circa 1944. Credit Library of Congress
Why women, but not men, are judged for a messy house

Theme: Men, boys and masculinities
Source: New York Times - USA

Global

« Pas pour les filles ? », de Mélissa Plaza, Robert Laffont
Voir une athlète forte et puissante brise les préjugés associés au genre féminin

Theme: Sport
Source: Le Monde - France