Jones, N., Bekele, T., Stephenson, J., Gupta, T., & Pereznieto, P. (2014). Early marriage in Ethiopia: The role of gendered social norms in shaping adolescent girls’ futures. Overseas Development Institute, London
The paper presents the key findings of a study that looked at the main factors influencing early marriage norms that have changed and persisted in Ethiopia’s Amhara region and how those norms affect adolescent girls’ access to education and overall wellbeing. It focuses on how individual agency, socioeconomic circumstances, demographic factors, and social institutions shape gendered social norms.
The study revealed that gendered social norms for adolescent girls in Ethiopia are changing, though very unevenly, in the context of rapid economic development, but from a very low base. It has been discovered that the main forces behind progressive gender norm change are access to education, supportive male relatives, positive local role models, top-down social mobilisation, and legal changes. The study found that education is a powerful change agent in the fight against early marriage. Adolescent girls are frequently enrolled in school, but they only occasionally attend because they have to help their mothers with the burden of household care due to the realities of the care economy, large family sizes, and relative declining economic well-being. “Sticky” conservative gender norms about girls’ and women’s bodies and sexuality, as well as the social and geographical isolation of out-of-school girls, have all been found to be major obstacles to the progressive change of gender norms.
It is argued that deeply ingrained beliefs among some parents that girls’ education does not lead anywhere seem to further reduce girls’ aspirations. In this regard, the paper has stated that policy and programming solutions include greater attention to educational and vocational training alternatives, investing in safe spaces where girls can seek advice and share their views and experiences, improving services for already married girls, and engaging men and boys in constructive activities. The paper suggested that services for married girls should be improved and offered. While it is unquestionably crucial to prevent early marriage, many adolescent girls in the Amhara region are already married, and their needs cannot be disregarded. They require support services that can help them deal with the strict cultural expectations of being a “good” wife because many of these married young girls experience social and physical isolation. Initiatives that can offer young girls who are already married mental health services and support, including possibilities to reenter school after a gap in education, are required.