Gender attitudes in adolescence: evaluating the Girl Rising gender-sensitization program in India

• Main Authors: Amita N. Vyas, G. Malhotra, N. C. Nagaraj, M. Landry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
• Subjects: gender; gender sensitization; gender equality; gender attitudes; gender norms; adolescent development
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1598450

Despite the gains India has made over the past 20 years, it remains a country with significant gender inequalities. Gender sensitization and empowerment programs during adolescence, when gender attitudes are formed, have the potential to diminish gender inequity. The Girl rising ‘Gender-sensitization program’ was implemented in 254 schools in India to support adolescents in identifying, articulating, and sharing their gender-related experiences. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a one group pre- and post-test with a sub-sample of schools in rural Punjab and Rajasthan, India (n = 2,894 adolescents). Multivariable regression analyses adjusting for gender, grade, and district found that gender equality scores increased by 0.66 points (p < .001), gender roles/privileges/restrictions mean score increased by 0.41 points (p < .001), and gender attribute mean score increased by 0.17 points (p < .001). Gender-sensitization programs can play an important role in forming and changing gender attitudes during adolescence, and have the potential to alter their short and long-term beliefs.