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. 

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

India

A mother helps her daughter to write a letter in India. Copyright: Times of India
Indian women spend 16 billion hours a day doing unpaid care

Theme: Economic empowerment, Masculinities, Unpaid work
Source: The Times of India - India

Global

A woman holds a placard at a rally reading " Equal pay for equal work." Copyright Ronen Tivony/LightRocket/Getty Images"
Not one single country set to achieve gender equality by 2030

Theme: Data, tools and measurement
Source: The Guardian - United Kingdom

Global

Many believe that Siri is submissive in the face of gender abuse. Image: REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
Hey Siri, you're sexist, finds UN report on gendered technology

Theme: Media
Source: World Economic Forum - Switzerland

South Africa

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is sworn in as South Africa's Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, May 30, 2019. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Women this week: Gender-balanced government

Theme: Politics
Source: Council on Foreign Relations - USA

Afghanistan

Afghan women at the traditional national assembly, or loya jirga, in Kabul on Monday.CreditCreditOmar Sobhani/Reuters
‘You Should Be in the Kitchen’: At Afghan Assembly, Women Are Told They Don’t Belong

Theme: Politics
Source: The New York Times - USA

Global

Pew Research Center logo
A changing world: Global views on diversity, gender equality, family life and the importance of religion

Theme: Data, tools and measurement
Source: The Pew Research Center - USA

Asia

Women in a garment factory in India. Copyright: Women's eNews
#MeToo in the Garment Industry

Theme: Economic empowerment, gender-based violence
source: Women's eNews - USA

UK, USA

A female crash-test dummy head. © Kellie French/The Guardian
The deadly truth about a world built for men – from stab vests to car crashes

Theme: Technology, Safety
Source: The Guardian - UK

Mexico

Electoral institute members meet in Oaxaca. Credit: Mexico News Daily
17 candidates out after suspected gender rules fraud

Theme: LGBTQI+
Source: Mexico News Daily - Mexico