Gendered stereotypes and norms: A systematic review of interventions designed to shift attitudes and behaviour

Rebecca Stewart; Breanna Wright; Liam Smith; Steven Roberts; Natalie Russell

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06660

Gendered stereotypes and norms: A systematic review of interventions designed to shift attitudes and behaviour

Heliyon. 2021 Apr 13;7(4):e06660. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06660. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Authors

Rebecca Stewart¹, Breanna Wright¹, Liam Smith¹, Steven Roberts², Natalie Russell³

Affiliations

¹ BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

In the face of ongoing attempts to achieve gender equality, there is increasing focus on the need to address outdated and detrimental gendered stereotypes and norms, to support societal and cultural change through individual attitudinal and behaviour change. This article systematically reviews interventions aiming to address gendered stereotypes and norms across several outcomes of gender inequality such as violence against women and sexual and reproductive health, to draw out common theory and practice and identify success factors. Three databases were searched; ProQuest Central, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Articles were included if they used established public health interventions types (direct participation programs, community mobilisation or strengthening, organisational or workforce development, communications, social marketing and social media, advocacy, legislative or policy reform) to shift attitudes and/or behaviour in relation to rigid gender stereotypes and norms. A total of 71 studies were included addressing norms and/or stereotypes across a range of intervention types and gender inequality outcomes, 55 of which reported statistically significant or mixed outcomes. The implicit theory of change in most studies was to change participants' attitudes by increasing their knowledge/awareness of gendered stereotypes or norms. Five additional strategies were identified that appear to strengthen intervention impact; peer engagement, addressing multiple levels of the ecological framework, developing agents of change, modelling/role models and co-design of interventions with participants or target populations. Consideration of cohort sex, length of intervention (multi-session vs single-session) and need for follow up data collection were all identified as factors influencing success. When it comes to engaging men and boys in particular, interventions with greater success include interactive learning, co-design and peer leadership. Several recommendations are made for program design, including that practitioners need to be cognisant of breaking down stereotypes amongst men (not just between genders) and the avoidance of reinforcing outdated stereotypes and norms inadvertently.

Keywords: Attitude change; Behaviour change; Gender; Men and masculinities; Social norms; Stereotypes.

Publication types

Review